Columbia University Hosts Society of College and University Planning 2025 North Atlantic Symposium

Columbia University Facilities and Operations hosted the Society of College and University Planning (SCUP) 2025 North Atlantic Symposium on June 13, bringing together over 150 professionals in the higher education design and construction industries. Participants came from as far as Boston, Buffalo, and Philadelphia, and nine regional institutions were represented.

The full-day event featured two presentations on the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses centered around the theme “Building the Future, Preserving History: The Evolution of Columbia University.” Edward McArthur, vice president of Columbia’s Planning and Capital Projects Management team, provided opening and closing remarks.

The first panel, “Building the Future, Preserving the Past: The Challenges of Modernizing a Historic Campus,” detailed the history of the Morningside campus since the University relocated to Morningside Heights in 1896, as well as strategies the University can implement to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 based on goals outlined in the University’s sustainability Plan 2030. The speakers included Gene Villalobos, executive director of Facilities Planning and Space Planning Management and Sean Scollins, assistant vice president of Engineering and Energy Management from Facilities and Operations; Reinhold Martin, professor of architecture from Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation; and Alexis Abramson, dean of Columbia Climate School. Patrick Saavedra, assistant vice president of Columbia’s Capital Project Management team, moderated the discussion.

Hany Ayoub, vice president of Columbia’s Manhattanville Development Group presented the “Manhattanville Campus Vision” which detailed the Manhattanville campus plan and new buildings constructed, including the Jerome L. Greene Science Center, Lenfest Center for the Arts, Lee C. Bollinger Forum, and Columbia Business School. 

Following both panels, attendees were invited to join guided tours of buildings and spaces on each campus.

SCUP is a learning-centric association comprised of over 4,100 professionals working to improve higher education planning through community, learning, and impact.