Project Profiles

Columbia’s Vision for Resilient Urban Athletics

Building Up, Not Out

Philip & Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center Columbia University exterior image — Photo courtesy of Kingspan

Perched on the northernmost tip of Manhattan, the Philip & Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center serves as a state-of-the-art facility for Columbia University’s men’s and women’s varsity teams. Designed with the motto “fitness for all,” the center provides 12 tennis courts, six indoor and six on the rooftop, alongside training areas, locker rooms and social spaces that foster inclusivity and wellness. Built on a constrained site between the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, the new center replaces an aging structure within the university’s Baker Athletics Complex and reflects Columbia’s broader commitment to resilient, high-performance design in the face of evolving urban and environmental challenges.

CHALLENGE

With limited space and proximity to two major waterways, the site presented multiple challenges. The design needed to accommodate a full-scale tennis facility on a compact footprint and ensure long-term resilience against flooding. Columbia required a full-size, NCAA-compliant facility featuring both indoor and outdoor courts, which the previous building lacked. Adding to the complexity, the new building needed to maintain strong visual and physical connections to the surrounding park and waterfront.

SOLUTION

To maximize space, architects at Perkins&Will developed a vertical strategy—stacking six indoor courts above flood-resilient support areas, with six additional courts on the roof. This tiered arrangement allows the building to meet both spatial and functional needs without compromising the surrounding landscape.To support interior visibility, occupant well-being and reduced reliance on electric lighting, Kingspan Light + Air’s UniG rid™ FRP Wall System with Verti-Lite™ grid pattern and integrated windows was selected for the indoor court level. The translucent panels allow for abundant natural daylight while minimizing glare and thermal hotspots, key factors in athlete performance and comfort.

Framed window openings introduce curated views of the surrounding riverfront, enhancing the sense of openness and connection to nature, even within an urban, high-performance sports environment. The vertical grid pattern of the UniGrid™ system complements the structure’s rhythmic façade of metal fins and white cladding, referencing the area’s industrial and maritime history while contributing to a clean, contemporary aesthetic. Recognizing the inevitability of rising waters, the design team employed a “wet floodproofing” approach at the ground level. Rather than resisting floodwaters, the structure accommodates them through flood vents and elevated mechanical systems, to allow water to flow in and out during extreme weather events. This approach supports rapid recovery after flooding while reducing long-term material degradation and aligns with regional sustainability and climate adaptation guidelines.

RESULTS

The Milstein Family Tennis Center demonstrates how institutional athletics facilities can successfully integrate site-sensitive design, environmental resilience and high-performance building solutions. Kingspan Light + Air’s UniGrid system plays a critical role in delivering diffuse daylight, enhancing visual comfort and supporting energy efficiency, all while maintaining aesthetic continuity across the building envelope.

As one of the first vertical tennis centers of its kind in the region, the project sets a precedent for future urban athletic facilities that must balance spatial limitations with increasing environmental demands. By pairing Kingspan Light + Air’s high-performance daylighting system with climate-conscious design, Columbia now boasts one of the most innovative collegiate tennis facilities in the country—one that not only meets today’s athletic needs but anticipates tomorrow’s environmental realities.