611 W. 112th Street Wins Two Merit Awards from ENR New York for Restoration and Sustainability
Columbia University’s new all-electric undergraduate residence hall, 611 W. 112th Street, earned two Merit Awards from Engineering News-Record (ENR) New York in the Renovation/Restoration and Sustainability categories.
The awards were received as part of ENR New York’s Best Projects Awards, which evaluates projects in New York State and New Jersey on how well they overcame challenges; contributed to the construction industry; and met safety, construction, and design quality milestones.
Located in the Morningside Heights Historic District, 611 W. 112th Street was vacant for 15 years and had extensive deterioration from roof and water damage before Columbia purchased the property. Columbia transformed the building into an all-electric undergraduate residence hall after a two-year comprehensive renovation, which included a building-wide replacement of the flooring, windows, and roof structure; historical restoration of the exterior masonry and recreation of the cornices; and core infrastructure upgrades – all while keeping with the historic district requirements.
Due to the building’s condition, the project team had to address unique challenges throughout the renovation. One of the project’s most significant challenges was structural stabilization, which required engineered shoring systems that allowed structural work to progress while the historic envelope was preserved. Also, variations in masonry openings required detailed field verification and close coordination during window installations to maintain watertight performance.
In line with Columbia’s sustainability agenda and in compliance with Local Law 97, 611 W. 112th Street is fossil fuel free, exemplifying how a historic building in disrepair can be renovated to meet modern-day needs and sustainability standards. Its design balanced the dual priorities of preserving heritage and achieving performance, for example, integrating building systems—such as room-level smart HVAC controls and energy-recovery ventilation—within the historic restoration parameters. These building systems contribute to an estimated 43 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to a standard NYC residence hall.
In addition to ENR New York’s Merit Awards, 611 W. 112th Street has received the prestigious Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy in recognition its restoration and adaptive reuse of a historic building.
611 W. 112th Street has also achieved LEED® Gold certification for its sustainable design and construction, Columbia’s first undergraduate residence hall to receive LEED® certification.