The New School just bought a building for an undisclosed amount and has no idea what they’re going to use it for. The building is going to officially open in a decade, according to David Van Zandt.
“We’re only now even starting to think about how we’re going to use it,” Van Zandt said.
A spokesperson for the school vaguely described that, just like the University Center, this new building will have an “expansive, open floor plan [that] will allow us to create prime, flexible spaces for learning and collaboration.”
In an email sent by Van Zandt on Sept. 12th it states that the building is located at 39 W. 13th St., which is just a few doors down from Arnhold Hall.
However since the building has not been officially purchased a spokesperson for the school said they were unable to provide how much they bought it for. They expect to close the purchase Jan. 2017.
The school won’t be moving in for a decade because of current tenants who have long term leases, such as a public high school, as well as the marketing and advertising company, Outbrain.
Move in will start as soon as those leases expire.
At the Fall Town Hall meeting on September 29th, Van Zandt said that because of these long-term leases they were able to acquire the property at a favorable price.
The proximity to the original New School building, 66 W. 12th St., was also a plus in the decision to purchase because it added to the school’s attempt of having campus buildings closer together.
In an email to faculty, staff, and the entire student body Van Zandt said that the building will also increase the percentage of “university owned real estate. [This] is important because it will significantly reduce the amount of rent and real estate tax we have to pay for buildings we occupy but do not own.
At the Town Hall he reiterated that the purchase of the building won’t have any negative effects on the current operation budget.
The new building is a way of planning ahead, Van Zandt said.
“I think it’s important for the long-term future of the university,” Van Zandt said. “I think that’s our responsibility, to look into the future and make those sorts of decisions for the future students down the road.”
Photo credit: Julia Himmel
Odalis is a senior studying Journalism + Design at Lang and the social media manager of The New School Free Press. She spends time watching all of the TV shows and likes to yell about them to her friends, and occasionally writes about it. She is originally from Puerto Rico but calls Miami home (#Miss305) and is very passionate about Cuban food, empanadas, and the salsa dancing emoji.
