If the delicious fare synonymous with NYU's events wasn't enough, students and community had plenty of food for thought at the "NYU Plans 2031" open house last night.
The event, which drew a considerable audience, was open to all students and community members and featured 11 information kiosks detailing different aspects of the university's expansion plan, including construction projects, the projected student growth, open space and transportation plans and community involvement, among others.
NYU 2031 is the projected expansion of NYU over the next 25 years, which, according to a handout from the open house, is currently in its first nine-tot-12-month planning stage. The plan includes possible expansion areas for student housing, facilities and academic buildings outside the Washington Square campus. The goal is to gain 6 million square feet while creating sustainable buildings that don't significantly disrupt the community.
Mary Fischetti, a sophomore in GSP, said she decided to attend the meeting after hearing about community discontent with NYU expansion.
"I heard talk that people in the city were not too happy about NYU, which I assume is buying out everything and trying to convince everyone it's fine," Fischetti said. "Maybe I'll have a different opinion when I walk out."
NYU administrators and presenters stood at each kiosk, clipboards in hand, answering questions and writing down comments from spectators. Attendees also had the opportunity to write concerns or comments on cards stacked on tables around the room.
Lori Mazor, vice president for campus planning and real estate, said they would compile comments collected during the open house to see if any common concerns arose that could be addressed by the university in planning, or answered in future open houses like the one planned for October 17.
Among those available for questions was Toshiko Mori, one of the five designers and architects contracted by NYU to collaborate on the expansion plans. She said NYU's goal would be challenging but possible.
"(NYU) sits on the most desirable real estate in the world," Mori said. "We can come to terms and have a collective dialogue, and it probably can be achieved."
Many of the students present at the open house were enrolled in professor Jim Morgan's "Decision Making in Urban Design" class. Morgan said he picks different architecture developments around the city to focus on and decided to use the NYU 2031 expansion this semester. Morgan said he was happy to see the university engaging the community, which he said was a new development.
"There's one word for it - unprecedented," Morgan said. "Those doors to Washington Square Park have never been opened before, and that's literally and figuratively true."
Alicia Hurley, associate vice president for government and community affairs, said she was happy with student attendance and hoped they would see the benefits of the plan.
"We're doing something for the future of the university to put it on a better trajectory in terms of community, and students should see it as better facilities and academic space," Hurley said.
Cat Contiguglia is city/state news editor. E-mail her at ccontiguglia@nyunews.com.
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