Columbia Presents Plans For Replacement Tennis Center In Inwood

INWOOD, NY — After nearly two decades in Inwood, Columbia University is replacing the Dick Savitt Tennis Center with a brand new facility that will add outdoor courts and remove the bubble dome that has become one of the most recognizable elements of the Northern Manhattan landscape.

The facility is used by the Columbia University men and women's varsity tennis programs, and anyone who is a member of the club. It is part of the Columbia University Baker Athletics Complex in Inwood.

A team from Columbia University, including the lead architect of the new facility, Stephen Sefton of Perkins & Will, presented their plans for the new tennis center to Community Board 12's Land Use Committee on Monday.

Sefton kicked off the presentation with an explanation of why the current tennis center needs a revamp, saying that the bubble structure was meant as a temporary fixing when it was first installed years ago, but ended up staying far past its expected expiration date.

More accessible entrances, not enough locker rooms, not enough storage space, a lack of appropriate space for spectators, and general fixes needed to the current exterior are some of the reasons Sefton gave for a rebuild.

The current facility also has no outdoor courts, making Columbia the only school in the Ivy League that doesn't play its official matches outdoors.

The plans for the new two-floor facility are unrecognizable compared to the Dick Savitt Tennis Center currently standing.

In terms of expected changes to the site, there will be more accessible entrances to the center along West 218 Street, the parking and service space will be reconfigured, additional green space will be added to the river courtyard, and work will be done to improve the connection to Muscota Marsh and nearby waterfront paths.

Certain adaptations will also be made for concerns about future sea-levels rising.

The inside of the tennis center will also go through some major changes, none bigger than the addition of six outdoor courts on the roof of the new facility.

Along with the outdoor courts, upgrades will be made to the locker rooms for both the Varisty team and club members, the coach and staff offices, and added seating and space for spectators.

Utility shutdowns and demolition of the existing facility began June 2 and are expected to be completed by Aug. 3. The completion date for the new facility is Oct. 12, 2022.

At the beginning of April, Columbia University filed permits to build the new facility, which will be shorter than the adjacent football stadium. The filings say that the new facility will be 44-feet-tall and have 112,710 square feet of community facility space.

Here are the site and floor plans for the new facility.

You can watch the full presentation to Community Board 12 below, it starts at the one-hour, three-minute mark.