The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons recently broke ground on an eight-story biomedical-research building on Columbia’s medical campus.
The facility (shown in a rendering above), located at the intersection of West 167th Street and Audubon Avenue, will house state-of-art research laboratories, community-engagement spaces, and open lounge areas to facilitate spontaneous interactions and idea-sharing among scientists. It will be the main hub for Columbia researchers who are pursuing treatments for some of the most significant threats to human health, from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders.
Designed by the architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, the new building will be the first university-owned research facility in New York City that does not rely on fossil fuels and fully incorporates sustainability goals into all aspects of its design and operation. The new building will use significantly less energy than similar buildings of its kind. In addition, extensive use of biophilic elements such as “green walls” of plants and natural building materials will provide health and environmental benefits.
