University Village Towers: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction

University Village Towers encompasses a range of residential options, from student housing near universities to faculty and graduate student apartments in a landmarked complex. This article will explore the various facets of University Village Towers, examining its amenities, location, history, architectural design, and community aspects.

Contemporary Student Living Near UCR

For students seeking a modern and convenient living experience near the University of California, Riverside (UCR), University Village Towers offers contemporary apartments designed to enhance the college lifestyle. These apartments are thoughtfully situated in Riverside, California, less than a mile from the UCR campus, providing students with easy and quick transportation to their classes.

Amenities and Features

University Village Towers provides a range of first-rate student amenities, including:

A hot tub for relaxation
A fully loaded fitness center for workouts
A ping-pong table for friendly competition
Fully-equipped kitchens in each apartment
Free high-speed Internet
Private balconies in select units
Fully-furnished apartments
Dedicated study rooms
Inviting community events

These amenities are designed to celebrate and enhance the college student lifestyle, providing a comfortable and convenient living environment.

Location and Accessibility

The location of University Village Towers near UCR offers students fast transportation not only to campus but also to shopping malls, local restaurants, and entertainment venues. This accessibility allows students to easily balance their academic pursuits with social and recreational activities.

NYU's University Village: A Historical and Architectural Landmark

In New York City, University Village refers to a complex of residential towers built in the 1960s by New York University (NYU). This complex, designed by modern architects James Ingo Freed and I. M. Pei, includes:

505 LaGuardia Place, a housing cooperative
100 Bleecker Street and 110 Bleecker Street (collectively known as the Silver Towers), housing NYU faculty and graduate students

The buildings surround a central plaza featuring the Bust of Sylvette sculpture by Carl Nesjar and Pablo Picasso. The complex also includes the John A. Paulson Center, a multipurpose building completed in 2021.

Historical Context

The redevelopment of the University Village site was first proposed in 1949, with a revised proposal called Washington Square Southeast announced in 1953. The site was originally part of the Washington Square Village project but was later acquired by NYU in 1960 due to development difficulties. University Village was developed between 1964 and 1966, and tenants began moving in during 1967.

Architectural Design

The three original brutalist-style towers are 30 stories high, featuring concrete facades and recessed windows. They are arranged around the courtyard in a pinwheel configuration. The towers have a combined 535 apartments, each with one to four bedrooms. The John A. Paulson Center, at the eastern end of the site, is 23 stories tall and includes a sports center, academic space, faculty apartments, and student dormitories.

Planning and Development

The development of University Village was part of a broader urban renewal effort in the Washington Square area. In July 1949, the Mayor's Committee on Slum Clearance identified sites for redevelopment under the 1949 Housing Act, including the area south of Washington Square. The Washington Square South site was to be developed in two sections, both designed by Eggers & Higgins.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Community and Opposition

The Washington Square Southeast proposal faced opposition from those who argued that the site was not a blighted area. Despite the opposition, the New York City Planning Commission approved the project in December 1953, and the federal government provided funding.

Design and Construction

NYU hired I. M. Pei & Associates to design the complex in December 1960. James Ingo Freed was the primary architect for the site. The original plan called for a curving six-story structure, a 19-story cooperative, and a 26-story tower for NYU faculty. The plans were later modified, with the low-rise housing cooperative being replaced by a tower.

Construction Process

Construction of the towers involved several key steps:

Foundation: The foundation engineers constructed a concrete foundation pad beneath each building, measuring 80 by 113 feet (24 by 34 m) across and 4 feet (1.2 m) thick.
Superstructure: The superstructure was constructed on a three-day cycle, with formwork construction, concrete pouring, and formwork removal. Fiberglass formwork was used for easy disassembly and reuse.

Landmark Status and Later Developments

The original towers and central courtyard were protected as city landmarks in 2008. The John A. Paulson Center was completed in 2021, adding new facilities to the complex.

Site Features

Location: University Village is bounded by Houston Street to the south, Mercer Street to the east, Bleecker Street to the north, and LaGuardia Place to the west.
Central Courtyard: At the center of the complex is a courtyard with the Bust of Sylvette sculpture.
Pathways and Lawns: The grounds include various pathways and lawns.

Streets and Pathways

The University Village site is crossed by several paths, which run north-south and west-east relative to the local street grid. Two south-north streets, Wooster Street to the west and Greene Street to the east, were closed to traffic when the buildings were constructed.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Bust of Sylvette Sculpture

The central courtyard features a cubist sculpture called Bust of Sylvette, which measures 36 feet (11 m) high and weighs 60 short tons (54 long tons; 54 t). It was sculpted by Carl Nesjar in 1968 based on a design by Pablo Picasso.

Recent Developments

In December 2014, NYU hired Davis Brody Bond and KieranTimberlake to design a new building on the superblock's eastern end. The Coles Sports Center was closed in February 2016 and demolished, and construction of the John A. Paulson Center began in 2017.

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