Another New Shiny Building for Astor Place (This Time it's From Cooper Union!)

A rendering for a building that will replace a Cooper Union engineering building has emerged (above). Designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, the 440,000-square-foot mixed-use building will replace the brown tribute to banality that currently hunkers across from the historic 1859 Cooper Union Foundation building. The 51 Astor Place building is to be demolished; the fate of the connected Starbucks (between Third and Fouth Avenues) is uncertain.

The Observer says the proposed building “will rise 145 feet, with one section reaching 13 stories and a shorter part going up to 11 stories.” The project will also aim for the U.S. Green Building Council's gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status. Developer Edward J. Minskoff has agreed to lease the property from Cooper Union for 99 years.

Last December the school paid $979,750 to the Bloomberg administration to release it from a 1959 restriction that the building be used for “educational purposes only.” It’s unclear exactly what tenants will eventually fill the commercial space, but the amended agreement stipulates that at least 40,000 square feet of the site be used for education.

Demolition and construction is not expected until late next year, when the school relocates to a new building at 41 Cooper Square being designed Thom Mayne. The Times notes that the real estate deal is part of Cooper Union’s attempt to reverse a history of budget deficits. The private college has been able to increase its endowment to more than $600 million in part due to income from real estate holdings, enabling free tuition for approximately 1,000 students.

Rendering: Studley Architects.

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By John Del Signore in News on February 14, 2008 3:21 PM

Comments [rss]

smitty

@streamwise: agreed.

Also, all that ivy they currently have outside that building is terrible too because it harbors rats.

Streamwise

What the hell are those weird foosball-table looking planters that are out front, and have housed dead plants for as long as I can remember???? That shit is ugly!

nivek

#5

Indeed, the write-up above does say that; however in accordance with some regulations, some of that space in the retail location must be set aside for Cooper use (perhaps really swank artist studios?).

NYCviaRachel

>>>Another New Shiny Building for Astor Place (This Time it's From Cooper Union!)

The Sculpture For Living (the glass tower at Astor) is already from Cooper Union. They own the property and like their owning of the Chrysler building, they use it to increase their endowment.

ken285

I don't believe this will be their new engineering building. If I'm not mistaken, Cooper Union is leasing out the land for others to build on it, which I imagine will be mostly commercial. The engineering school will be moved into Thom Mayne's creation a few blocks south.

nivek

And I'm posting from inside the Senior Lab right now =/

Thank goodness I'm not going to be around for the hideous new academic building.

ladynil

I'm sad to see that building go. Four of the best years of my life were spent in those utilitarian walls...

akachris

Is Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki a Cooper Union alumnus?? You'd think they at least hire a Cooper Union alumnus to design their new Engineering Building.