0 CommentsColumbia does a lot of construction, but this takes the cake.
Over the summer, Low Plaza underwent some pretty massive renovations. Coming back to campus over the summer for my library job, I was surprised to find the plaza completely fenced off and demolished, when just a few weeks ago I was dragging myself across Low Plaza on the way to my last final. Here are some photos I took of the plaza’s construction during that time:
June 24 – My first time coming back to campus for the summer, finding that Low Plaza is completely gone :0
July 2 – The outlines of Low Plaza are coming back in place :)
August 19 – Low Plaza is coming back to life :D
According to Columbia University Facilities and Operations, this summer’s renovation was the plaza’s first major restoration since its construction around 1897, over 100 years ago. The plaza underwent renovation in order to fix and improve its walking surface, underground substrate, draining system, electrical service, and lighting infrastructure. They also replaced the granite stairs between College Walk and Low Plaza and added back missing limestone benches along the plaza (if I remember correctly, some of the benches broke last year after a heavy snowstorm). Here are the before and after photos provided by Columbia:
Images via Columbia University Facilities and Operations
That’s quite a big difference. No longer are the days when I would almost trip over a loose brick or crack in the ground while rushing to my next class…
Here’s a photo I took last year of Low Plaza as well:
If you look closely, you could see the patchiness of the lighter portion of the plaza, compared to the smooth, clean white of the plaza patterning now.
For some history behind the plaza, Low Plaza, formerly known as South Court, was originally designed by architect Charles Follen McKim (fun fact: his name is engraved on the plaque in the middle of Low Plaza, and bricks from the original plaza remain around his plaque!). The plaza was constructed using dark red Catskill brick and Joliet limestone, made to match the colors of the academic buildings around it. After it was first constructed, people complained it had “too much masonry,” so they later added the grass on the sides of the plaza and installed water fountains.
My personal favorite moment of Low Plaza history is when, in 1934, a slide was built across the plaza to move books from Low Library to the new Butler Library:
Image via Columbia Instagram
Since its inception, Low Plaza has remained an iconic centerpiece of Columbia’s campus. Low Plaza is where Columbia students crowd under the sweltering heat during Activities Day; sled across after a night of heavy snowfall; dance and drink borgs during Bacchanal; and look across at the sunset while sitting on Low Beach. It has also appeared in many popular Hollywood movies, like Ghostbusters, Spider-Man, and The Detective. While the restoration of Low Plaza will help sustain this classic Columbia landmark for generations to come, I can’t help but miss the charm of the old Low Plaza and the memories I made on it, so here’s some of my favorite Low Plaza photos I took last year to commemorate:
Low Plaza at night
Low Plaza at sunset
Low Plaza in snow