Uris Hall

1980s facade of Uris Hall

Uris Hall houses Columbia Business School, as well as the Uris Deli and a loud library, the Business and Economics Library

History

Uris Hall was built on the foundation for the never-completed University Hall. Its design was intended to continue (or at least reflect) the campus north-south axis of monumental stone-faced buildings; its strong vertical element attempted to echo the columns of Butler and Low Libraries. Despite this, the building was considered so ugly that architecture students picketed its dedication in 1961, holding signs reading "No More Mudds". Despite an attempted to rein in its ugliness with a 1984 addition, it remains among the ugliest campus buildings to this day.

In 1978, the building was occupied by protesters demanding divestment from apartheid South Africa.

In an attempt to give its students their own exclusive space, the Business School set about in recent years to deter undergraduates from using the building, revoking the ability to use Dining Dollars at the deli, removing Flex capacity from the copiers, and placing the building's computers on a separate network.

Not content with these moves, the Business School has announced its intention to move to a new facility within the planned Manhattanville campus. It is unclear what will occupy Uris following the school's relocation. Demolition and replacement may be one option that would satisfy the building's architectural detractors, though it is more likely the building will be employed for some expedient use, such as academic office space. The somewhat scattered and occasionally itinerant Economics Department is a natural choice to occupy at least part of the space.

Photos

Uris with Curl
Protests at Uris Hall's dedication, 1961
Uris Hall on completion in 1961, without the recently added extension on the entrance
Rendering of the new addition to Uris's facade