Office of Public Affairs
Columbia University
New York, N.Y.   10027
(212) 854-5573

Contact:  Anne Canty				FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
					
Columbia University to Develop Guidelines for
 Planning, Preservation and Development

	Columbia University has chosen a distinguished group of planning, 
preservation and landscape design professionals to create an overall
 planning framework, propose preservation guidelines for university-
owned apartment buildings and develop a landscape master plan for the
 campus, it was announced by President George Rupp.   Work on the three 
related, but separate projects, will run concurrently and begin 
immediately.
	"At Columbia we value our links to New York City and to our own
 neighborhood," said President George Rupp.   "As we prepare to celebrate 
our 100th anniversary in Morningside Heights, we believe that this
 comprehensive planning effort will benefit our entire community, both on
 campus and off." 
	The consultants selected and the tasks they will perform include:
--- Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB), an architecture, preservation and planning 
firm noted for its work on New York City landmarks such as Grand 
Central Terminal and Ellis Island, will develop comprehensive planning 
guidelines for the preservation and development of Columbia facilities now 
and in the future.  Earlier this year, BBB participated in the development of 
preservation guidelines for historic Stone Street in lower Manhattan;

--- Higgins and Quasebarth, consultants in the preservation and
 rehabilitation of historic properties, will inventory the more than 150 off-
campus apartment buildings owned by Columbia, provide baseline data,
 and -- in conjunction with BBB -- develop preservation guidelines; 

Thomas Balsley Associates, a landscape architecture firm, in 
association with public garden designer Lynden B. Miller, and lighting
 designer Howard Brandston will work on a landscape master plan, 
including recommendations on plantings, signage, paving, lighting and
 street furniture; 

--- Andrew Dolkart, architectural historian, adjunct Columbia faculty 
member and author of the soon-to-be-released The Acropolis of New York, 
will participate in two aspects of the project.  Working with Higgins and 
Quasebarth, he will provide history and context for what he refers to as 
New York City's "first apartment house neighborhood;"  he will also work 
with the landscape architects to provide historical perspective on 
Columbia's  campus.

	"In the past, Columbia's efforts at comprehensive planning and our
 ability to work with our neighbors has been hampered by incomplete 
information and differing levels of knowledge," said Executive Vice
 President for Administration Emily Lloyd.  "This work is intended both to 
give us a framework for future decisions and much-needed baseline 
information concerning our existing facilities, particularly the buildings 
we own off campus.  I feel certain that the group we have assembled will 
give us an outstanding work product for the benefit of the University and
 the entire neighborhood."  The Executive Vice President for 
Administration oversees, among other areas, the Department of Design, 
Planning, and Construction, which will be responsible for the direct 
supervision of these preservation and planning projects. 
	Wendy Feuer, a consultant who recently joined Columbia University, 
will serve as project director and coordinate the three concurrent projects.  
Feuer comes to Columbia with an extensive background in preservation 
policy and planning and a track record of working with diverse groups to 
reach consensus on local issues.  Before starting work at Columbia, Feuer 
spent 11 years as director of Arts for Transit and Facilities Design at the 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority.  She also serves as a trustee of the 
Preservation League of New York State.
	Community input will be sought throughout this process in the form 
of a working group, including concerned parties and experts from local and 
citywide groups involved in preservation and development, and in the form 
of a public meeting to be held this fall.  Neighboring Morningside Heights 
institutions have also been invited to participate in these studies.
	

 9.23.96										18,950