NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies to Officially Open Redesigned, State-of-the-Art Learning Facility

Renovated Building to Provide High-Tech Classrooms, Wireless Communications, and Professional-Caliber Meeting and Event Space to Support Evolving Educational Needs

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On November 21, the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) will officially open its newly renovated 117,000-square-foot campus home at 7 East 12th Street. NYU officials; prominent donors, including Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels; and government officials, including Congressman Jerrold Nadler (8th Congressional District), will participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception that will officially welcome NYU-SCPS students, faculty members, and staff to the new space.

"For more than 77 years, the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies has served individuals throughout the City, the region and beyond," said NYU-SCPS interim co-dean and associate dean of administration Dennis Di Lorenzo. "We offer a new variety of continuing education – one that includes a wide spectrum of online and onsite options, and encompasses 16 master's degree programs, 13 graduate certificates, undergraduate degree programs, and noncredit courses and certificates. The investment in this innovative learning environment reflects our long-term commitment to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse student body, now and for years to come."

Occupied since September, the retrofitted facility's resources and services are available to more than 5,000 NYU-SCPS undergraduate and graduate students and the School's nearly 30,000 noncredit students who are enrolled in more than 1,500 continuing education courses and certificate programs. The facility brings together the School's Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management; the Paul McGhee Division; and the Liberal Studies and Allied Arts Division (including the American Language Institute and programs in interpreting, translation, foreign languages, arts appraisal, humanities, and writing).

"This is another major milestone in our School's history," commented Bjorn Hanson, NYU-SCPS interim co-dean, and divisional dean and HVS Chair of the NYU-SCPS Preston Robert Tisch Center. "The new space consolidates many NYU-SCPS classrooms and administrative offices, which had previously been housed across the NYU campus.  Our new building has transformed intra-school awareness and coordination and enhances the academic and social experiences for our students and the entire SCPS community."

Designed by Mitchell | Giurgola Architects, the building's open design features a dramatic dichroic glass facade that allows those walking past the structure to witness the teaching and learning occurring within, and provides students with the sense that they are a part of a larger learning environment – New York City. The atrium-style lobby incorporates a grand elliptical staircase that ascends from the concourse level, through the lobby, to the second floor. State-of-the-art classrooms, wireless-access student lounges, private study rooms, computer labs, and conference space combine form and function.

Formerly known as the Fairchild Building, the structure at 7 East 12th Street, which was erected in 1948, has an interesting past. Designed by Harrison & Abramovitz, one of the architectural firms that conceptualized and built Rockefeller Center and the Continental Can Building, it housed Fairchild Publications – a pioneer in the fashion magazine industry and publisher of popular titles including W, Women's Wear Daily and M Inc. In 1992, the building was acquired by NYU to house various administrative offices.

In addition to this newly retrofitted location, NYU-SCPS also holds classes and has administrative offices at the NYU Midtown Center, 11 West 42nd Street (which houses the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate; the Center for Publishing; the Center for Advanced Digital Applications; and graduate and continuing education programs in Human Resource Management and Development; Integrated Marketing; Management and Systems; Public Relations and Corporate Communication; and Graphic Communications Management and Technology); and downtown at the Woolworth Building, 15 Barclay Street (which houses the Center for Global Affairs and other programs).

SOURCE NYU School of Continuing & Professional Studies