Historic Restoration of 611 West 112th Street Wins Prestigious Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award
611 W. 112th Street, a new undergraduate residence hall resulting from a building-wide renovation at a long vacant property, has received the esteemed Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from New York Landmarks Conservancy in recognition of the restoration and adaptive use of a historic building.
To earn this prestigious award, Columbia completed a full exterior restoration at 611 W. 112th Street, comprised of the brick, limestone, and terracotta and cleaning of the façade – all in keeping with the historic district requirements. Features include new wood pilasters made with exterior-grade mahogany; double-glazed, aluminum-framed windows with profiles matching the historic originals; and a new glass-fiber-reinforced concrete cornice.
As part of the project, the building’s exterior was carefully and thoughtfully restored. Missing or damaged materials were replaced in kind to match the original fabric. Special care was taken with the prominent south facade that required the replication of major sections of the limestone cornice and decorative wood columns. The team worked to recreate the missing cornice based on historic images and small remnants that remained on the building.
In addition, the project exemplified how a historic building in disrepair can be renovated to realize modern-day needs and sustainability standards. The 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.
“The transformation of 611 W. 112th Street into Columbia’s first all-electric residence hall demonstrates what is possible for historic buildings,” said David M. Greenberg, executive vice president of Columbia University Facilities and Operations. “This award is a testament to the project team’s commitment to preserving the neighborhood’s architectural heritage while advancing the University’s sustainability goals. Thank you to the project team for this extraordinary achievement.”
The annual Moses Awards are the Conservancy’s highest honors for outstanding preservation work in New York City, celebrating architects, craftspeople, and building owners for their contributions to protect the city’s historic places. The award for 611 W. 112th Street will be presented during the 36th Annual Moses Awards ceremony on April 16 at Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Located in the Morningside Heights Historic District, 611 W. 112th Street was built in 1904 and later served as a single-room occupancy hotel before closing in the early 2000s. The building then sat vacant and suffered significant deterioration from a partial roof collapse and water damage before Columbia purchased the property.
Columbia embarked upon a two-year comprehensive renovation to convert the building into the University’s first all-electric undergraduate residence hall, which opened to residents for the 2025-26 academic year.
The interior gut renovation included a building-wide replacement of the flooring, windows, and roof structure; as well as core infrastructure upgrades in compliance with the latest NYC building code.
The building is currently tracking LEED® Gold certification in recognition of its sustainable design, which would also be Columbia’s first undergraduate residence hall to achieve LEED® certification.
“I am proud of the project team’s thoughtful and meticulous renovation of 611 W. 112th Street in accordance with Landmarks Preservation Commission requirements,” said Hany Ayoub, deputy vice president of Manhattanville Development Group. “Through close coordination with Beyer Blinder Belle and Consigli Construction, we were able to deliver a forward-thinking, energy-efficient building that sets a new precedent for University housing.”
611 W. 112th Street is the second University building to receive a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award. In 2020, Columbia won the award for its historic restoration of St. Paul’s Chapel. Built in 1907, St. Paul’s Chapel was among the first buildings to be designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.