Columbia University
EN-9: Community Partnerships

Three years ago Mangurian began working together with Columbia Facilities and other offices to create the Football Community Engagement Summer Project, which aims to develop a unique program that put service-learning at the center of the new players’ first weeks as New Yorkers. 34 freshmen football players spent their first summer in New York City working with local community groups and on campus as part of program designed to introduce them to life at an urban university. Groups were split up, some spending time at Operation Exodus in Inwood, while other teams spent the month chaperoning field trips for middle-schoolers; working in a community garden and improving Riverside Park; helping Columbia’s Office of Environmental Stewardship to boost the University’s recycling; creating databases for archival materials and staffing Dodge Fitness Center.

The University is utilizing best practices in environmentally sustainable construction and design in various phases of the Manhattanville construction and is committed to reducing the impact of construction on the environment and local community. Beginning in August 2008, with pre-construction, Columbia took a creative approach to increase recycling of building materials, help train women and young people in green construction skills, improve the storm sewer system benefiting the entire local community, and utilize innovative methods of decreasing noise and dust. At the core of the construction activity is a commitment to maintain a safe environment—for the construction workers and for the surrounding neighborhood. In collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund, Columbia University is utilizing best practices in environmentally sustainable construction and design in various phases of the Manhattanville construction. The University is committed to reducing the impact of construction on the environment and local community. In addition to complying with required regulations, Columbia has adopted an approach to construction that surpasses requirements from federal, state, and local agencies. The University is achieving this goal through the implementation of a clean construction action plan during construction activities. Columbia’s clean construction program primarily addresses air quality, noise, vibration, integrated pest management, communication, and education. As part of this cutting-edge, comprehensive clean construction program, Columbia’s Manhattanville campus development team is using an innovative wheel washing system that cleans truck tires and vehicle under-chassis with high volumes of recycled water under great pressure, removing sediment before trucks leave the construction site and enter the surrounding community, thus limiting dust in the air.

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