Campus got a mini makeover.

As you might have seen, some things changed on Columbia’s campus over winter break. Here, I have listed as many of these changes as I could, including pictures when possible.

McBain – Hallways and Lounges

In McBain Hall, a lot of changes took place. Over winter break, the carpets in the hallways, as well as the kitchen equipment, were replaced. The oven and stove were replaced with a separate stove and a smart oven. And, the larger wooden cabinets were swapped with smaller cubbies. On January 20, emails indicate, furniture was replaced in every lounge.

John Jay – JJ’s Place Floor Update

Some changes have taken place in JJ’s Place as well. The other downward staircase in the entrance has been reopened as the pickup spot for mobile orders.

In addition, the formerly wooden-looking floor has been replaced by a new pattern that Google Lens tells me is an epoxy floor coating.

Ongoing Construction Projects

Hartley Hall and the East Asian Library in Kent are undergoing renovations, as well as some other areas, listed below.

Schermerhorn – Computer Science Learning Center

Since May 27, 2025, Columbia has been conducting a “[f]ull gut-renovation of existing northwest and southwest office suites on the 300 and 400 levels of Schermerhorn Hall to create the Computer Science Student Learning Center,” as well as facade repairs. 

The room is set to contain “new private offices for faculty, student advising staff, and teaching assistants; a recitation room; breakout rooms for student team discussions; student collaboration space; an open lounge; and [a] pantry.”

As of January 28, construction is visibly taking place in the western half of floors 3-5. Cardboard has been placed throughout the ground floor (4). 

On the 3rd floor, the Computer Science Learning Center (Room 301) is almost finished, and paper taped to the door indicates that it will open sometime in February. According to the building directory, Room 301 used to contain Professor Donald Hood’s Visual Science Lab, and before Hood’s lab, it was composed of various offices.

Before the renovations, floors 4-5 (connected by a spiral staircase) contained a two-story Psychology Department hub containing some offices. The locked door to this area has stayed the same, but now there are various “Keep Out” signs attached, along with building permits. From what I saw, construction is still underway, with workers coming in and out. The room itself is dark, and its windows are mostly boarded up.

A large garage or shed, which may be temporary, has been built to the side of the building.

Uris – New Offices

Construction and renovation on the upper Uris floors, formerly from the Business School, have been ongoing as well. Many psychology offices formerly located on Schermerhorn 4-5 (according to the aforesaid directory) have been moved to the Uris 8th floor. Meanwhile, on the 7th and, particularly, 6th floors, it looks like work is being finished and people from other departments are moving into offices and cubicles.

Miscellaneous

Columbia’s construction website informs me that there are a few other projects going on. There is a lab renovation on the 8th floor of the Northwest Corner Building, and there are “repairs” in the parking garage of the International Affairs building. These projects are scheduled to be completed by January and February, respectively. 

All photos by Olin Bose unless otherwise attributed.