After the original Fiterman Hall was irreparably damaged on 9/11 by collapse of the neighboring World Trade Center, the construction of its replacement became an important neighborhood goal, symbolic of Lower Manhattan’s resurgence.
Out of the many design challenges faced, including the environmental remediation and deconstruction of the existing structure, the greatest challenge was to accommodate a vertical campus on a relatively small site. Housing 15 levels of program space, the new building is home to four major academic programs and contains a significant portion of BMCC’s general education teaching spaces.
Fiterman Hall has two major entrances, each serving a distinct but important purpose. The entry at the northwest corner serves as a natural link to the rest of the BMCC campus to the north, while the south entry faces a new triangular park and the World Trade Center site beyond. This iconic front door opens onto a raised terrace with a public café while providing direct access to the art gallery. These amenities, together with the vibrant atmosphere of dynamic, light-filled spaces, make a vital contribution to the continued rejuvenation of the neighborhood.
SITE: Just north of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan
COMPONENTS: Classrooms, computer labs, offices, library, and assembly rooms; capacity of approximately 4,200 students + 280 faculty offices / workstations
CLIENT: City of University of New York, Borough of Manhattan Community College; Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
PCF&P SERVICES: Programming, architecture, exterior envelope, interior design, furniture procurement
SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Silver Certified
AWARDS:
Design Award of Honor
Society of American Registered Architects, New York Council, 2017
Excelsior Award for Public Architecture
American Institute of Architects, New York State Chapter, 2015
Winning Site: Built by Women New York City
Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, 2014
Outstanding Design
American School & University, 2013
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