News

Columbia University Facilities and Operations was a sponsor for Inspire Enterprise, Inc.’s Third Annual Black Business Owners Forum held on October 13, 2022. The virtual event focused on how to leverage the power of a Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification to acquire more contracts.

CUFO looks forward to participating in Construction Inclusion Week hosted by Gilbane Building Company on October 21 where Assistant Vice President of University Supplier Diversity Tanya Pope will join a special conversation on “Capital Projects as Engines of Equity".

Team delivers over 5,500 packages directly to undergraduate residential rooms in August prior to student arrival.

Columbia University recently donated new HP all-in-one printers to 20 non-profit organizations in Harlem and the surrounding community. 

Columbia University’s retail portfolio is expanding with the recent signing of FIELDTRIP, a fast-casual rice bowl shop by James Beard Award-winning chef JJ Johnson.

inFO is a monthly email with news from across Columbia University Facilities and Operations. Check out the September 2022 edition.

Sapp’s, a local restaurant serving Japanese cuisine, is the latest Columbia University retail tenant to join the Morningside Heights neighborhood. The opening marks Sapp’s second location, joining their original location in Long Island City.  

Nine women who work for the University’s Facilities and Operations team were recognized at the Women Builders Council (WBC) 17th Annual Champion Awards Red Tie Reception held on September 21 at Guastavino's.

Facilities and Operations is excited to welcome you to back to campus for the 2022-23 academic year. Our team was hard at work over the summer around campus and behind the scenes to enhance your experience on campus. Below are highlights of improvements that you will see around campus this fall. 

Instead of training for track this summer, Issa Samake traded his running sneakers for a chance to get hands-on experience in construction, a major he is thinking of pursuing once he graduates from the Bronx Design and Construction Academy next year. This opportunity was made possible through Columbia University Facilities and Operations and the New York City Career and Technical Education (NYC CTE) Industry Scholars’ internship program that ran from July 11 - August 19.  

In August, the Columbia Dining culinary team participated in a three-day training intensive led by chefs from the Culinary Institute of America. Our wonderful culinary team is constantly improving, and it’s our goal to ensure that the food served in our dining halls is fresh, high in nutrients, and delicious, of course! The team is very excited to use their newly learned skills in preparing food for our students this academic year.

As the next vice president of Columbia’s Department of Public Safety, Gerald Lewis Jr. will bring a relentless focus on the security of our community and an unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community partnerships. 

As part of the NYPD’s 26th Precincts Back to School Supply Drive, Facilities and Operations teamed up with Columbia Community Service (CCS), Columbia’s Government and Community Affairs, and the West Harlem Development Corporation to collect school supplies for students in the local community. 

Updates to Check-In Logistics Resulted in Smooth Process for Undergraduate Residential Students and their Families 

The 2021-2022 academic year was one of significant growth in demand for Columbia’s Evening Shuttle service, powered by Via. The shuttle, which runs each evening until 3 a.m. within a coverage area surrounding the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses, provided 162,000 rides over the academic year.