Columbia University Opens First All-Electric Residence Hall at 611 West 112th Street
Columbia University has marked a milestone in its sustainability efforts by completing its first all-electric undergraduate residence hall at 611 W. 112th Street. University leaders gathered together at a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 20 to celebrate its opening for the 2025-2026 academic year.
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’s Manhattanville Development Group managed a comprehensive interior gut renovation and a full exterior restoration including 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 according to the latest NYC building code implemented in 2022 – all while keeping with the historic district requirements.
The opening of this residence hall, along with the renovation of Hartley Hall now underway, also represents a significant step forward in Columbia's housing strategic plan, which includes upgrading amenities and enhancing the overall student residential living experience.
The building now includes 76 double rooms and seven single rooms, with each floor offering seven single-use restrooms and a common space with a kitchenette, seating, and television. In addition to a lounge on the lower level, the building features three courtyards for students to enjoy and build community. 611 W. 112th Street is also fully accessible to support disability access, with accessible student rooms and restrooms, a new entrance ramp, and elevator.
"We had been strategically evaluating this property for some time, recognizing its prime location as a transformational opportunity for our housing portfolio," said David M. Greenberg, executive vice president for University Facilities and Operations. "This project allowed us to reimagine what a modern residence hall can be—creating an efficient, sustainable, 21st century living environment from the ground up while honoring the building's historic character and the heritage of the Morningside Heights Historic District. We're not just renovating a building; we're advancing our vision for the future of undergraduate residential life at Columbia."
In line with Columbia’s Plan 2030 sustainability goals and in compliance with Local Law 97, 611 W. 112th Street is fossil fuel free, with an estimated 43 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to a standard NYC residence hall. It was also built with a wide range of sustainable design features, including specialized heating and cooling systems, green roof trays, high-performance windows, variable refrigerant flow heat pumps, and more. The building is currently tracking LEED® Gold certification in recognition of its sustainable design, which would be Columbia’s first undergraduate residence hall to achieve LEED® certification.
“We could not be more thrilled with 611 W. 112th Street – its positive impact on sustainability, its historic restoration, and most of all, its opportunities for building community and enhancing on-campus living for Columbia’s undergraduate students,” said Scott Wright, vice president for Campus Services. “We cannot wait for the building to come alive with its inaugural residents.”
611 W. 112th Street joins 518 W. 111th Street and 600 W. 125th Street as new additions to Columbia’s housing portfolio, the largest addition of University housing in 20 years.
For more information on the building, visit the 611 W. 112th Street building profile on the Columbia Housing website.