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KieranTimberlake

KieranTimberlake

Philadelphia, PA

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The Paulson Center's transparent facade takes advantage of the building's 360-degree relationship with the neighborhood and lets the building rely primarily on natural light for circulation spaces throughout the day. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
The Paulson Center's transparent facade takes advantage of the building's 360-degree relationship with the neighborhood and lets the building rely primarily on natural light for circulation spaces throughout the day. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
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John A. Paulson Center

entered around Manhattan's Washington Square Park, New York University's campus exists within a dense mix of traditional and modern buildings. Because of this urban campus, the school's various programs are dispersed across a number of separate buildings, each functioning with far less space than the University's peer institutions. Based on University planning studies, NYU needed to increase space for faculty and students to strengthen its academic culture. In addition to more classrooms, the University needed specialized space for its renowned performing arts programs, student and faculty housing, and athletic facilities. Working in collaboration with Davis Brody Bond, KieranTimberlake designed a building on the campus's southern edge that would graciously accommodate NYU's academic needs, embody its character and vibrancy, and offer new ways for the University to engage with its own community and the larger city of New York.

FOSTERING CONNECTIONS

Designed to optimize interactions between diverse student groups and academic disciplines, the LEED Gold-certified John A. Paulson Center at 181 Mercer includes classrooms, informal study spaces, performing arts theaters, rehearsal and practice rooms, varsity sports arenas, a recreational sports gymnasium, and a café, as well as faculty and first-year student housing. Each of these spaces is organized into unique “neighborhoods,” all of which are connected to an open and expansive commons that provides collaborative study, meeting, and gathering places.

 
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Status: Built
Location: New York, NY, US
Firm Role: Architect
Additional Credits: Designed in collaboration with Davis Brody Bond, A Page Company

 
The building is organized into 'neighborhoods' connected to an open and expansive commons for collaborative study and meeting space. © Connie Zhou / JBSA Images
The building is organized into "neighborhoods" connected to an open and expansive commons for collaborative study and meeting space. © Connie Zhou / JBSA Images
Designed to encourage interaction between diverse student groups and academic disciplines, the Paulson Center's inclusive programming and open design bring faculty, students, and community members together in a building that represents NYU's creativity and energy. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
Designed to encourage interaction between diverse student groups and academic disciplines, the Paulson Center's inclusive programming and open design bring faculty, students, and community members together in a building that represents NYU's creativity and energy. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
The 350-seat theater is NYU's first professional-level proscenium, fly-loft theatre for student productions. © Connie Zhou / JBSA Images
The 350-seat theater is NYU's first professional-level proscenium, fly-loft theatre for student productions.
© Connie Zhou / JBSA Images
© Connie Zhou / JBSA Images
© Connie Zhou / JBSA Images
The Paulson Center provides NYU with instruction and practice rooms for its music and performing arts programs, and the University’s first orchestral ensemble room. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
The Paulson Center provides NYU with instruction and practice rooms for its music and performing arts programs, and the University’s first orchestral ensemble room. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
New sports facilities include a varsity arena to serve NYU's athletics program. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
New sports facilities include a varsity arena to serve NYU's athletics program. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
The Paulson Center offers housing for first-year students and faculty. © Connie Zhou / JBSA
The Paulson Center offers housing for first-year students and faculty. © Connie Zhou / JBSA