Interim President Donna Shalala is attempting to make good on her promises to improve the New School with new additions to campus this semester, including a huge new space for students at 39 W 13th. St. Over the winter break, the school upgraded several buildings and added new infrastructure in an effort to “enhance the student experience,” according to the university.

To kick off the semester, the dining hall held “Bites and Beats,” a pop-up of free food and live music by members of the Mannes School of Music and the School of Jazz. Free customizable water bottles were handed out, and an array of sustainability events were thrown.

President Shalala informed the New School Free Press about the new initiative on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

In the first steps of the renovations, walls were torn down from the dining hall to include more seating, and new ones were put up on the second floor of 39 W 13th St. Charging stations were installed throughout buildings, and new furnishings were added to create student lounges. 

In 2017, The New School purchased the 39 W 13th building as part of a “long-term strategy,” according to the university. The previous tenants included the New York City Department of Education and Party City. Renovations in the building are ongoing and expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

On Dec. 18, 2023, the university began renovations by  converting the second floor of the building. The second floor was most recently leased to Monday.com but has now been converted into a space for lounging, student organizations, and the Student Success staff. 

The Student Senate, WNSR Radio, and the New School Free Press are the only designated spaces on the floor. The space will eventually be added to from student suggestions, according to the university.

 “Students ought to figure out what they want and what they need,” Shalala said to the Free Press. 

The W 13th Street building will also be the new location for Campus Card Services, according to the university. 

Included in the promised enhancements is a brand-new layout and furniture for the Eugene Lang Courtyard. However, no new furniture or changes have been made as of yet. The university said they expect the furniture to arrive in the next several weeks. 

Another part of the recent changes is the 16th Street building’s eighth-floor cafe, formerly O Cafe, which will reopen on March 1 after a long hiatus.  

“No one else around here is impatient. I am impatient. I want to get it done, so that students can get more resources,” President Shalala told the Free Press in November 2023.