Columbia University - Lenfest Center for the Arts Image
New York, New York, United States

Columbia University - Lenfest Center for the Arts

Lendlease provided construction management services for Phase I of Columbia University's Manhattanville in West Harlem Development. The Lenfest Center for the Arts (Lenfest Center) is the second building to open on the new campus.

Columbia University Lenfest Center for the Arts

Client
Columbia University

Location
New York, New York, United States

Completion
2017

Area
60,000 square feet

Assignments
Construction Management, Agency

Architect
Renzo Piano Building Workshop

Project outcome

Lendlease provided construction management services for Phase I of Columbia University's Manhattanville in West Harlem Development. The Lenfest Center for the Arts (Lenfest Center) is the second building to open on the new campus. It is an arts venue designed for the presentation and creation of art across disciplines, providing a dynamic new space for Columbia University School of the Arts and a more publicly accessible home for The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery.

The building includes: more than 4,000 square feet of column free space for the exhibitions of the Wallach Art Gallery an ideally equipped 150 seat theater for film and digital projection, the Katharina Otto Bernstein Screening Room a flexible performance space for developing and presenting new work in theater and innovative cross disciplinary productions and a 4,300 square foot presentation space for readings, lectures, symposia and additional exhibitions.

The various programs (screening room, performance space, Wallach Art Gallery and presentation space) are given double height areas within the 60,000 sf eight floor building, with support services and offices located on the mezzanine levels. To underscore the Lenfest Center's mission of serving both Columbia and the city, the façade at street level is a completely transparent custom glazed curtain wall. The development of the streetscape through setbacks, sidewalk widening and landscaping and the provision of the Small Square immediately outside the Lenfest Center promotes a connection to the community and a more walkable campus.