Construction Updates

Construction of the interim plaza was completed in late June 2019. You may view archived monthly construction updates below. 

  • For general questions about Haven Plaza, please visit our project FAQs page.
  • For any community-related questions, please contact the Office of Government & Community Affairs at 212-305-8060 or gca@cumc.columbia.edu.

Archives

December 2018 Construction Update

What is happening:

  • The Allan Rosenfield Building parking lot will permanently close on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018; the Neurological Institute parking lot will permanently close on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018.
  • Mobilization and installation of the construction fence will begin on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018.
  • Demolition and site work may be performed at the site of the former Allan Rosenfield Building parking lot, pending final approvals.

What to expect:

  • Access to and from the Allan Rosenfield Building and Neurological Institute—including ADA access—will be maintained throughout the construction process; however, there will be periods of modified building access and egress. While construction is underway, please observe all temporary sidewalk barriers, directional signs, and modified access routes.
  • Vehicular access to and on-street parking along Haven Avenue between 169th Street and Fort Washington Avenue will remain available until the NYCDOT relocates all affected on-street parking spaces and begins its street resurfacing work, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in spring 2019. The NYCDOT’s work is weather-dependent and subject to change.
  • Updated on Dec. 21, 2018: In the coming days, the Haven Plaza project team will begin erecting the fencing and temporary walkways around the former parking lots located in front of the Allan Rosenfield Building and the Neurological Institute. Once the fencing and walkways are completed, we will begin demolition and heavy construction activity. We currently anticipate demolition will begin on Wednesday, December 26. The main entrance to the Neurological Institute will remain available; patients, faculty, and staff should use existing ramp to enter the building. Directional signage also will be posted along the temporary walkways to assist individuals enter and exit the building.

January 2019 Construction Update

Special Alert: Modified Access to Allan Rosenfield Building 

  • To reduce potential congestion along the temporary walkways, the following modified access to the Allan Rosenfield Building took effect on Wednesday, December 26:
    • From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, you must enter and exit the building via the 8th floor entrance. (Updated on Monday, January 21, 2019)
    • From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Mondays through Fridays, and all weekends, you must enter and exit the building via the 10th floor entrance. (Updated on Monday, January 21, 2019)
  • Directional signage will be posted along the temporary walkways to assist individuals entering and exiting the building.

What is happening:

  • A construction fence was erected around the former parking lots located in front of the Allan Rosenfield Building and the Neurological Institute. Demolition began on Wednesday, December 26. Demolition will continue throughout January 2019.
  • The Neurological Institute retaining wall demolition and repair began on Wednesday, December 26. This will be followed by the removal and replacement of the southern half of the wall.
  • Repair of the retaining wall by the Allan Rosenfield Building driveway will start in mid-January 2019. This work includes demolition and replacement of the north third of the wall. Vehicular access will be unavailable to the 8th floor ARB driveway between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • Construction activity will be performed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

What to expect:

  • After-hours and some weekend work will be required; residents will be notified before after-hours or weekend work commences. Although not currently planned, we may have to schedule after-hours or weekend work to make up for any time lost due to inclement weather.

Safety Initiatives:

  • Public Safety guards will be posted at both the 8th and 10th floor entrances to the Allan Rosenfield Building during the temporary modification to pedestrian traffic (see Special Alert above).

February 2019 Construction Update

Modified Access to Allan Rosenfield Building 

  • From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, you must enter and exit Allan Rosenfield Building via the 8th floor entrance. Use the walkway to travel to and from the 8th floor, not the driveway.
  • From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Mondays through Fridays and all weekends, you must enter and exit Allan Rosenfield Building via the 10th floor entrance.
  • Vehicular access to the 8th floor of the Allan Rosenfield Building driveway is unavailable.

What is happening:

  • Repairs to the Neurological Institute retaining wall continue through mid-February. Remaining work includes the installation of structural concrete and brick face for the retaining wall.
  • Repairs to the Allan Rosenfield Building driveway retaining wall continue. Remaining work includes concrete installation and covering the brick veneer.
  • Electrical conduit and cabling work will take place inside Hammer Health Sciences Center, Allan Rosenfield Building, and the Neurological Institute.
  • Trenching and excavation for planter curbs, electrical, and irrigation pipe installation begins. During this time, there will be periods of noise.
  • Beginning Feb. 19, the Neurological Institute’s exterior double doors located on Fort Washington Avenue will be upgraded to feature automatic and accessible doors.

What to expect:

  • Construction activity will be performed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • After-hours and some weekend work will be required; we will notify you before after-hours or weekend work commences.

Safety Initiatives:

  • Public Safety guards will be posted at both the 8th and 10th floor entrances of the Allan Rosenfield Building during the temporary modification to pedestrian traffic.
  • Directional signage is posted along the temporary walkways to assist individuals entering and exiting the Allan Rosenfield Building and the Neurological Institute.

March 2019 Construction Update

Special Alert

  • Due to ongoing construction, please be aware of the following temporary modified building access routes:
    • From Thursday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 24, you must enter and exit the Allan Rosenfield Building via the 8th floor entrance. Access to the 10th floor entrance will be unavailable during this time.
    • From Thursday, Feb. 28 through Monday, March 18, you must enter and exit the Neurological Institute via the Fort Washington Avenue entrance.

What is happening:

  • Repairs to the Neurological Institute retaining wall are scheduled to be completed this month. Remaining work includes brick face for the retaining wall.
  • Repairs of the retaining wall by the Allan Rosenfield Building driveway also continue, with concrete installation and brick veneer cover scheduled to be performed this month.
  • Trenching and excavation for planter curbs, electrical, and irrigation pipe installation will also take place this month. While this work is being completed, there will be periods of increased noise around the
  • construction area.

What to expect:

  • Construction activity will be performed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • After-hours and some weekend work may be required; we will notify you before after-hours or weekend work commences.
  • Vehicular access to the 8th floor ARB driveway remains unavailable.

Safety Initiatives:

  • Public Safety guards are posted at both the 8th floor entrance of the Allan Rosenfield Building as well as the Fort Washington Avenue entrance of the Neurological Institute during the temporary modification to pedestrian traffic to/from those buildings.
  • Directional signage is posted along the temporary walkways to assist individuals entering and exiting the Allan Rosenfield Building and the Neurological Institute.

April 2019 Construction Update

Special Alerts

  • Due to ongoing construction, you must enter and exit the Allan Rosenfield Building via the 8th floor entrance at all times until further notice.
  • An electrical shutdown impacting Neurological Institute, Hammer Health Sciences Center, and parts of Milstein Hospital is anticipated to take place in early May. Additional information will be distributed prior to the shutdown.

What is happening:

  • Repairs of the retaining wall by the Allan Rosenfield Building driveway continue, with concrete installation and brick veneer cover scheduled to be completed this month.
  • Trenching and excavation for planter curbs, electrical, and irrigation pipe installation continues. While this work is being completed, there will be periods of increased noise around the construction area.
  • Replacement of concrete slabs and waterproofing around network compartment rooms located on Haven Avenue continues.

What to expect:

  • Construction activity will be performed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • After-hours and some weekend work may be required; we will notify you before after-hours or weekend work commences.
  • Vehicular access to the 8th floor ARB driveway remains unavailable.

Safety initiatives:

  • Public Safety guards are posted at the 8th floor entrance of the Allan Rosenfield Building to accommodate the temporary modification to pedestrian traffic entering and exiting the building.
  • Directional signage is posted along the temporary walkways to assist individuals entering and exiting the Allan Rosenfield Building and the Neurological Institute.

May 2019 Construction Update

Special Alerts

  • An electrical shutdown impacting the Neurological Institute, Hammer Health Sciences Center, and parts of Milstein Hospital is anticipated to take place from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 5.
  • The main entrance to the Neurological Institute will be temporarily unavailable on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11, due to main repairs. During this time, please enter and exit the building using the Fort Washington entrance.
  • The 10th-floor entrance to the Allan Rosenfield Building will reopen on Monday, May 20.
  • Beginning on Tuesday, May 28, the NYC DOT will close Haven Avenue between 169th Street and Fort Washington Avenue to resurface the street for the interim pedestrian plaza. Once the NYCDOT completes the street resurfacing work, the street will remain closed to through traffic and on-street parking. Car and bicycle traffic will be rerouted eastward on 169th Street toward Fort Washington Avenue.
  • Beginning on Tuesday, May 28, patients traveling to and from the Allan Rosenfield Building and Neurological Institute by car or ambulette will be able to access these buildings via a driveway that will be created along the west side of the plaza. For more information, visit the Information for Patients webpage.

What is happening:

  • From Monday, May 13 through Saturday, May 18, concrete curbs and planters will be installed at the following intersections:
    • Haven Avenue and the northwest corner of 169th Street
    • Haven Avenue and Fort Washington Avenue
  • Construction taking place on Columbia University Irving Medical Center property is scheduled to be completed on Sunday, May 19; the construction fencing will be removed at that time.
  • Minor construction work, such as landscaping, planting, and the installation of benches and a gate under the Neurological Institute overhang, will continue the week of May 27.

What to Expect

  • Construction activity will be performed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • After-hours and some weekend work may be required; we will notify you before after-hours or weekend work commences.
  • Vehicular access to the 8th floor ARB driveway remains unavailable.

June 2019 Construction Update

Special Alerts

  • The NYC DOT closed Haven Avenue between 169th Street and Fort Washington Avenue to resurface the street for the interim pedestrian plaza. Once the NYCDOT completes the street resurfacing work, the street will remain closed to through traffic and on-street parking. Car and bicycle traffic will be rerouted eastward on 169th Street toward Fort Washington Avenue.
  • Drivers traveling to and from the Allan Rosenfield Building and Neurological Institute by car or ambulette may access these buildings via a driveway that will be created along the west side of the plaza. 

What is happening:

  • Resurfacing Haven Avenue between 169th Street and Fort Washington Avenue by the NYC DOT; this work is weather dependent. 
  • Installation of concrete curbs and planters at the following intersections:
    • Haven Avenue and the northwest corner of 169th Street
    • Haven Avenue and Fort Washington Avenue
  • Installation of street seating will take place in front of the Kolb Annex, across from the Barnes and Noble Campus Bookstore. 
  • Installation of concrete benches and plaza furniture.
  • Installation of two bar gates (one at each end of the plaza).

What to Expect

  • Construction activity will be performed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • After-hours and some weekend work may be required to complete the street resurfacing work.

Safety Initiatives

  • Public Safety guards are patrolling Haven Plaza.
  • Directional signage along Haven Avenue has been updated assist drivers traveling on Haven Avenue.
  • Traffic representatives will be posted at the corner of Haven Avenue and 169th Street for several weeks following the street closure to direct drivers as they become accustomed to the new traffic patterns.
  • All construction areas will be protected by barriers while work is being performed.