Project Unites Three Departments in One Complex for the First Time
Designed by Leers Weinzapfel Associates (Boston), Cornell University’s new 135,000 sf building for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science (Cornell Bowers CIS) is now under construction. Bringing together the departments of Computer Science, Information Science, and Statistics and Data Science for the first time in one complex, the new building will create both a precinct and a destination for the university’s rapidly growing computing and information science programs. The multi-use building will connect to the college’s existing Bill & Melinda Gates Hall (Gates Hall), and, according to Dean Kavita Bala, “expand opportunities for student research and experiential learning with new research initiatives that will position us for continued world leadership in tech.”
Located at the southern gateway to Cornell’s Ithaca N.Y. campus and adjacent to one of its world-famous gorges, the new four-story building will define a highly identifiable Bowers CIS precinct of continuous building and open space, creating a magnet attracting students from multiple disciplines across the entire university. Its three research floors connected to Gates Hall will float above a lively and active ground floor framing an outdoor space for daily use, small gatherings, and large ceremonies.