New Columbia Business School Buildings Come Alive with Support from Facilities and Operations

Columbia Business School moves into new home at Manhattanville campus. Facilities and Operations champions projects from development all the way through supporting services offered in the new buildings.

A view of Henry R. Kravis Hall from the Viaduct.

The spring 2022 semester was undoubtedly a special one for Columbia Business School, as it welcomed students, faculty, and staff to its new buildings, David Geffen and Henry R. Kravis Halls.  A culmination of several years planning, design, and construction, the new buildings commemorate the school’s official move to Manhattanville.

David Geffen and Henry R. Kravis Halls were designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with FXCollaborative as executive architect, and offer technologically-advanced classrooms, multifunctional spaces, lounges, dining facilities, and study rooms to encourage collaboration and creativity.  Combined, the two new buildings span 492,000 square feet, nearly doubling the School’s previous square footage at the Morningside campus.

A view of The Square, with newly planted trees surrounding benches, and David Geffen Hall in the background.

In addition to the new buildings, a new 40,000 square-foot public green space called The Square opened in between David Geffen and Henry R. Kravis Halls.  The Square is a flexible and collaborative space for outdoor gatherings, lectures, meetings, and performances, and is equipped with Wi-Fi and power outlets for connectivity. 

Within the buildings, Facilities and Operations departments also played an important role in the services provided to students, faculty and staff of the Business School, and the greater Manhattanville campus community.

Columbia Dining opened two new eateries: the Robert F. Smith Dining Hall in Henry R. Kravis Hall and the Café in David Geffen Hall.

Smith Dining Hall offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options from a fresh salad bar to hearty sandwiches or hot-off-the-grill items. Breakfast favorites include smoothies and acai bowls. Found on the second floor of Kravis Hall, Smith Dining Hall is open to University ID card holders Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Café features fresh coffee and espresso, house-made pastries, and an assortment of gourmet, ready-to-go sandwiches. The Café is located on the main floor of David Geffen Hall and is open to the public Monday -Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

A long table is set up for a catered lunch in an event space in Henry R. Kravis Hall, which overlooks the Hudson River.

Meanwhile, Event Management opened a full-scale catering kitchen and operation to support Business School functions large and small, from a coffee meeting for two to a formal dinner for 600 attendees. Since January, the Event Management team has helped to facilitate over 700 events.

With the growth of the Manhattanville campus as a key University area of academic, artistic, research, administrative and community activity, Columbia Transportation also added to its existing service via both the Intercampus and Manhattanville Loop shuttles. In addition, Public Safety added approximately 30 officers to fill new posts in conjunction with the opening and daily operations of the new buildings.

Columbia Mail's vehicle parked on the street next to Henry R. Kravis Hall.

Behind the scenes, Columbia Mail expanded its routes to include USPS and campus mail delivery to the new buildings.

The opening of David Geffen and Henry R. Kravis Halls mark the completion of phase 1 of construction of Columbia's Manhattanville campus campus.  For more information on the new buildings, please visit Columbia Business School’s website.