Dear Editor,
How about a new super world-class hotel/conference center/condo (penthouse units), located on Amsterdam Avenue, across from the engineering building or somewhere adjacent to the campus? It could include the Columbia Club, thereby escalating the visibility of the Club while at the same time enhancing the importance of the campus. A unique aspect would be that each room would have a multimedia terminal with a fax/modem and printer: the first cyberspace hotel. A conference center could be designed to include the latest computer technology, perhaps networked to the rooms and campus. An alternate location would be over the Teacher's College, utilizing the air-rights.
With the Columbia Club and Faculty Club, and perhaps Barnard's Alumni Association as residents in the new facility, the hotel could be the megastructure for the future, rather than a duplication of those older college clubs downtown. After all, Columbia is a big city school and the new structure (call it The Blue Lion) would take advantage of the identity, turning around an image that is not always complimentary.
An added feature at the top would be twin communications towers, covering the entire range of communications including high-speed data transmission with satellites; Columbia around the world. Call the towers the "Armstrong Towers." [editor's note: Edwin Armstrong, invented FM radio.]
Trust that you will look favorably on these suggestions.
Joe Mislan
SEAS