First Look: NYU's Massive New Multi-Use Building at Houston and Mercer

NOHO, NY — New York University (NYU) officials revealed renderings Thursday of the 23-story, multi-use university building that will rise at 181 Mercer St., on the corner of Houston and Mercer.

The 735,000-square-foot building will house over classrooms, common areas, performance spaces, gym facilities, freshman dorms, faculty housing and more. Plus, it replaces a 35 year-old un-air-conditioned gym.

The new facility will contain more square footage of classroom space than any other building on the NYU campus, officials said Thursday — including more than 20 music instruction rooms and ample study areas. It will also house three new theaters and about 10 new workshop spaces for performing arts classes.

"181 Mercer’s height and massing is inspired by its surrounding neighborhood," the university said in a statement, "while its elegant and transparent façade reinforces the sense of openness found within the building’s interior."

Another highlight of the new building: an athletics facility containing four basketball courts, a six-lane lap pool and designated space for wrestling, fencing, squash and fitness training.

The development will house approximately 420 freshman and 30 to 60 faculty members.

"And while the academic purpose of the building was foremost, the architects were asked to do more than that," NYU President Andrew Hamilton said. "They were asked to meet our academic needs while achieving the highest standards for design in order to produce a building of which the University can be proud, one that reflects our character and is thoughtful and responsive to the concerns of our neighbors."

The design has floor-to-ceiling windows that take advantage of natural light while reducing energy use. There's also a green roof to provide outdoor space and allow for better run-off control during heavy rainfall.

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Renderings courtesy of studioAMD