Happy Holidays from Facilities Management and Campus Services

Every day, our teams work together to help make Columbia University Irving Medical center a destination for transformational healthcare, education, and research. As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at the many ways we’ve served you this year.

Building and Renovating Spaces

• We've renovated approximately 40 percent of Hammer Health Sciences Center to support the medical center’s strategic research priorities.
• The approximately 2,100 square foot Columbia University Cryo-Electron Microscopy Center opened.
• A new 12,000 square foot research facility for the Columbia Stem Cell Initiative transformed outdated laboratories and support spaces into a new, laboratory facility, complete with a living wall.
• The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center has a new modern lab within a new 24,000 square foot research center.  
• The 60,000 square foot Haven Plaza opened earlier this year. More than 2,000 people have participated in events at Haven Plaza since its opening. 
• Facilities Engineering modernized 10 elevators in Hammer Health Sciences Center and upgraded three elevator controllers in Russ Berrie Medical Sciences Pavilion. 
• CARE Crew refreshed 55,819 square feet of public spaces in 12 campus buildings.

Providing Key Resources and Training

• Campus Life Safety and Regulatory Compliance conducted 239 fire drills with 5,159 participants.
• Our teams completed nearly 25,000 work orders—and counting.
• Our Facilities Customer Service Center answered 12,308 calls. Along the way, we worked to keep you informed, sending nearly 650 facilities repair and enhancement notifications.
• Public Safety answered 23,421 requests for service and provided 6,935 security escorts.
• 530 employees attended two active shooter training sessions; Public Safety also provided Operation ID, self-defense classes, and Ride Your Bike and Shred Fest events.
• We installed 11 EV charging stations throughout our parking lots.
• We reconfigured and designed all audiovisual and information technology systems in our classrooms.

Enriching Your Studies and Research

• The Knowledge Center received 206,500 visits and processed 1,534 interlibrary loan requests.
• The Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library also offered 29 educational sessions, with 715 attendees, including the much-praised workshop The Write Stuff.
• The library’s partnership with the Office of Scholarship and Research resulted in three conference posters and three peer-reviewed journals. 
• First-year students prepared for their summer research and practicum experiences via the interactive online game “Information Highway: Navigate the Pathway to Success!”

Hosting Memorable Events

• More than 4,390 regular classes, lecture series, and events were booked via Classroom Management—that’s more than 18,448 individual bookings! 
• The Faculty Club catered 6,500 events, from coffee breaks to elegant plated dinners. We served more than 220,000 guests this year.

Supporting Your Health And Wellbeing

• The Energy Management & Sustainability Department prevented 1.2 million tons of lifetime carbon emissions equivalent to the emission from burning 550,000 tons of coal.
• Student Health Service provided services to 5,394 students in medical, Mental Health, Wellness, Addiction Information and Management Strategies.
• Student Health Service also debuted its new space, bringing together medical, mental health, wellness, and insurance and administration functions into one expanded location. 
• Students also enjoyed 14 Crafternoons, five Stressbusters events, 35 pet therapy sessions, and more!
• Bard Athletic Center (BAC) welcomed 3,083 student members during the 2018-19 academic year. BAC also offered free exercise classes for students and BAC members, and hosted a Member Appreciation Day.

Creating A Home Away From Home For Our Students

• This year, we welcomed 388 new tenants into on-campus housing.
• We introduced beautiful plants across the entire campus including all housing properties, Haven Plaza and academic buildings.

We’re proud to support our campus community, and we look forward to continuing that support in 2020 and beyond. Happy holidays and best wishes for a healthy and productive new year!