Wow Schapiro Hall. What a view. This impressive 17-story building stands tall. It’s one of Columbia University’s newer residence halls. Schapiro Hall opened in 1988. It cost a whopping $18 million to build. This allowed Columbia to house all its undergraduates in dormitories for the very first time. That was a big deal. A dream Robert Pollack then-Dean of Columbia College had championed. This policy remains. All current and future Columbia and Barnard undergraduates are guaranteed housing.
Schapiro Hall isn’t just bricks and mortar. It’s a place of dreams and aspirations. A place where countless students have lived. Many students have studied here. Many have created memories. Imagine the countless conversations late into the night. The quiet moments of study. The laughter echoing in the hallways. This hall holds a lot of history. Think about it for a moment.
It houses 245 single rooms and 85 doubles. There are even music practice rooms. It also features floor lounges. Two study spaces allow for quiet focus. The building’s top floor. The 17th floor is special. It’s called the Penthouse. This is a quiet study space for students. It has no residential rooms.
The architectural firm Gruzen Samton Steinglass designed Schapiro Hall. The building’s design is modern and functional. Yet it blends well with the surrounding neighborhood of Morningside Heights. The location is perfect. It’s just half a block from Columbia’s main campus. It’s near Broadway and 115th Street. This places it right in the heart of the action. Imagine strolling to classes. Imagine spending time in the bustling neighborhood.
Schapiro Hall even has a famous resident. Patrick Radden Keefe. An American author and winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize in 2021. He lived here. He likely spent many hours in the study spaces or lounges. He may have even written parts of his award-winning book here.
Schapiro Hall is more than just a dormitory. It’s a vibrant part of Columbia University’s history. It’s a place where students come to study and grow. It’s a place where memories are made. This is Schapiro Hall. A landmark in the Columbia University landscape. A testament to a time when Columbia guaranteed housing for all its students.