Columbia University is proud to unveil plans for a dramatic expansion of its most iconic structure: Low Memorial Library. With this enlargement, Low will no longer merely stand for scholarship; it will thrust boldly into the future, piercing the very skyline of Morningside Heights.
The centerpiece of the project is a commanding central tower, erected precisely where the library’s modest dome once lay. Rising straight and true, this structure promises to be both imposing and inspirational, a vertical proclamation of Columbia’s intellectual endurance and unwavering stamina in the pursuit of truth.
To honor tradition while embracing modernity, the University’s architects have ensured the original dome will not be lost. Instead, the design includes two smaller, carefully rounded domes placed on either side of the tower. These auxiliary domes will flank the proud central shaft. Finally, crowning the tower will be a new dome, rising above the others and glistening atop the peak of Columbia’s academic might.
President Claire Shipman praised the plan, calling it “a bold, upright vision” and “a penetrating statement of Columbia’s enduring presence in the Ivy League.” The new structure, she added, will “stimulate scholarly engagement” and “stand firm against the test of time.”
The University expects construction to begin next spring. Until then, Columbia invites students and faculty alike to imagine a monumental sight of Low Library’s new silhouette: towering, unmissable, and impossible to mistake for anything else.
