NYU’s Expansion at 181 Mercer Street Nears Completion in Greenwich Village, Manhattan

Construction is nearing completion on NYU‘s campus expansion at 181 Mercer Street in Greenwich Village. Designed by Davis Brody Bond and KieranTimberlake, the 735,000-square-foot complex consists of three towers rising from a full-block podium between Houston, Mercer, and Bleecker Streets and I.M. Pei’s University Village complex. The project is the culmination of over a decade of proposals, planning, and building that dates back to the mid 2000s. Turner Construction Company is the general contractor for the development, which is aiming for LEED gold certification.

Since our last update in July, the glass curtain wall has enclosed the remainder of the upper floors on all three towers and glass railings have been assembled along the perimeter of the podium. The only façade sections awaiting completion are the gaps where the construction elevators remain attached to the towers. The elevator on the southern elevation facing Houston Street began disassembly on March 5 and should reach street level in the coming weeks.

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

One interesting detail spotted during our visit are the abstract orange and black patterns across the honeycomb tiles on the underside of the cantilevering sections. So far only two volumes have received this treatment, though the others should likely follow suit.

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

181 Mercer Street. Photo by Michael Young

Forty percent of 181 Mercer Street’s interiors will be dedicated to academic space with 58 new classrooms. Other components include new dormitories for students and faculty members, additional office space and dining areas, and outdoor landscaped rooftop terraces atop the podium totaling 25,000 square feet. A centralized space for students, called the Commons, will span two floors with a cafe, large seating areas, and close access to the theater, which comes complete with balcony and mezzanine seating designed to accommodate up to 350 people.

The complex will also house indoor athletic facilities including a six-lane swimming pool, a running track, four basketball courts, squash courts, a wrestling room, and multiple fitness rooms. There will also be dozens of new music instruction and practice rooms and the New York University’s first orchestral ensemble room.

Below are several interior and exterior renderings of the complex.

181 Mercer Street. Designed by Davis Brody Bond and KieranTimberlake.

181 Mercer Street. Designed by Davis Brody Bond and KieranTimberlake.

181 Mercer Street. Designed by Davis Brody Bond and KieranTimberlake.

The Commons.

181 Mercer Street is reported to be ready for occupancy by November 2022, but will formally open in spring 2023.

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