Recognition of the power of physical spaces forms the cornerstone of Polytechnic Institute of NYU’s i2e Campus Transformation, a project to rebuild and renovate parts of the downtown Brooklyn campus – from creating flexible classrooms designed for better collaboration and laboratories designed to stimulate research to common areas that facilitate spontaneous brainstorming and entrances that simply look stunning. The campus transformation is key to helping NYU-Poly reach its academic objectives of attracting top-level faculty and high-achieving students, thereby firmly establishing the Institute as a world-class center of applied science, technology and engineering.
NYU-Poly is leading in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship (or “i2e”) by arming faculty and students with the tools, resources, and inspiration to turn their research applications, products, and services that take flight as faculty- and student-owned companies. The campus transformation efforts embrace the tenets of i2e, planning and designing spaces that both support and advance them.
A nearly year-long assessment of the NYU-Poly facilities conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of expert engineering and architecture firms in 2010 illuminated a number of challenges and opportunities. Existing NYU-Poly facilities would require a significant investment to refurbish in line with contemporary standards and, even so, would not create space for future growth. As a first step, reflecting the priorities of the academic plan and the realities of existing facilities, a capital plan was developed, which was endorsed by the Steering and Space committees and the Board of Trustees in October 2010.
Driven by the academic objectives and the right-sizing of the university, the capital plan has coalesced around four core strategies that address the limitations of the current facilities and factor in the requirements for future growth:
- Renovation of Rogers Hall to accommodate laboratories for new faculty hires
- Expansion into MetroTech Center
- Preparation of the Jacobs Administration and Civil Engineering building site for academic redevelopment
- Investment in existing assets on an ongoing basis.
Six driving principles
Six Driving Principles of Transformative Capital Planning
by Jerry Hultin, President, NYU-Poly
These principles were conceived for the purpose of guiding the vision, goals, objectives and decision-making process in creating a sound Capital Plan for the future of NYU-Poly.
01
i2e (invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship): Embodies and fosters the core of i2e principles
04
Transparent Process: Demonstrates transparency in idea generation, decision-making, governance, financing, and implementation
02
Green: Demonstrates leadership in energy and environmental design that utilizes the best practices in high performance building and sustainability
05
Strategic Planning: Represents an integrated, systems approach that is resilient and flexible and responds to multiple inputs
03
Engagement Process: Is inclusive and responsive to the vision, needs, and desires of faculty, administrators, staff, and students
06
Exemplary Design: Is an award-winning design and model of excellence in architecture, urbanism, and campus enhancement
TIMELINE
i2e Campus Transformation will consist of three phases (1 to 3, 3 to 5, and 5 to 10 years).
- CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION 2009
- CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION 2010
- CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION 2011
- CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION 2012
- CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION 2013
GOVERNANCE
A robust governance system, established early on in the i2e Campus Transformation, ensures and encourages input from representatives of the entire NYU-Poly community – faculty, students and staff. A committee structure allows us to convene visionary thinkers to shape major initiatives and focused working groups that steer specific projects forward. Committees that are/have been engaged in campus transformation initiatives include: Steering, Space Planning, Special Projects, Laboratory, Academic Spaces and Rogers Hall. The complete rosters of currently active committees are listed below.