Welcome

David M. Greenberg,
Executive Vice President

One of the challenges of an annual report is that it highlights the big moments and projects of a year, but it is hard to fully capture the impact of day-to-day efforts. And yet, those day-to-day efforts can have an even greater influence in defining our organization in the eyes of our clients. Whether it be a warm smile greeting residents upon their return home, a Public Safety officer going the extra mile to make someone feel safe, the rainy day shuttle bus that stays on schedule so people do not stand needlessly in the rain – these are moments that people value. Moments like these are happening across campus, day-in and day-out. So before I begin a review of Fiscal Year 2016, I want to recognize and thank our team of 1,900-plus employees for making the extra effort in the moments when the spotlight is not shining, selflessly and with the best interest of the Columbia community.

Fiscal Year 2016 marked several significant steps in the development of the new Manhattanville campus, Columbia’s most transformational building project since moving to the historic Morningside Heights campus in 1897. We neared completion on the first new buildings, the Jerome L. Greene Science Center and the Lenfest Center for the Arts, and planned for the full operation of the buildings beginning in spring 2017. We broke ground for the first open space to be completed on the new campus, the Small Square outdoor plaza. We marked the official opening of our 75,000-square-foot central energy plant, and developed an exhibit to celebrate the links between Harlem and the Columbia community. As the new Manhattanville campus comes to life, we continued our long-term strategy of renewing facilities and providing state-of-the-art amenities at the historic Morningside Heights campus, investing $140 million in 400 construction and renovation projects that enhanced spaces where students, faculty and staff can thrive and learn on the campus that houses the majority of Columbia’s acclaimed schools.

This past year we increased access to several important services that make Columbia a more welcoming and safe place for everyone in our wonderfully diverse community. Supporting the Emergency Meal Fund and keeping residential dining locations open during school breaks at no additional cost helped meet the needs of students experiencing food insecurity. The University increased the number of accessible restrooms, improved routes and introduced disability access service alerts online - all part of a multi-year plan developed to improve overall campus accessibility. Increasing the number of staff members at Counseling & Psychological Services decreased appointment wait times and contributed to the breadth and depth of staff expertise and experience needed to best support the well-being of the campus community.

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the client experience through our digital presence, we developed a new online services request system featuring a custom client dashboard and the ability for residents of University Apartment Housing to submit services requests online for the first time. We also launched digital kiosks for wayfinding and other information at the main entrances to the Morningside campus.

This year we increased access to several important services to make Columbia a more welcoming and safe place for everyone in our wonderfully diverse community. Supporting the Emergency Meal Fund and keeping residential dining locations open during school breaks at no additional cost helped meet the needs of students experiencing food insecurity. Increasing accessible restrooms, improving routes and introducing disability access service alerts online is part of a multi-year plan developed to improve overall campus accessibility. Increasing the number of staff members at Counseling & Psychological Services decreased appointment wait times and contributed to the breadth and depth of staff expertise and experience needed to best support the well-being of the campus community.

We doubled our efforts to create a more sustainable Columbia, continuing the important work of developing the University’s first comprehensive Sustainability Plan (scheduled to be released in spring of 2017), launched a campus bike share program, and collaboratively announced a new set of Sustainability Principles that focus on fostering a culture of sustainability campus-wide.

And let’s not forget when Mother Nature decided to drop a winter’s worth of snow on campus all within a single day. Our team responded early and often, keeping campus safe for the students, faculty and administrators who depend on our leadership with everything from supplying meals to cleaning walkways

You will find information about these achievements and more in this year’s annual report. Of course, it is the initiative, professionalism and sense of ownership demonstrated by our Facilities and Operations employees and University partners that enable our accomplishments. I am particularly proud of this year’s awards garnered by our team, which feature top industry awards in dining, construction, health, community, communications, sustainability and more.

Exciting times lie ahead. As the new Manhattanville campus comes to life, the University will be able to repurpose vacated space at Morningside to help address space needs. We are launching programs to receive and analyze more robust feedback from our clients to serve you better and leveraging technology to provide greater and easier access to our services.

In the coming year we look forward to exceeding your expectations and partnering with you to further strengthen Columbia’s reputation as one of the world’s great universities.

Year in review

In depth

A Step Toward Addressing Food Insecurity

The issue of food insecurity, or lack of resources to obtain nutritious food, is not a new challenge for college students, however, over the past two years it has become a focal point on campuses... Read More

A Stronger Morningside

Perhaps three stories describe the physical assets of Columbia's historic Morningside Heights campus, home to the majority of Columbia’s acclaimed undergraduate, graduate and professional schools as well as University housing. Read More

Counseling and Psychological Services Expands and Evolves with Student Needs

Counseling and Psychological Services, and Columbia Health overall, have a longstanding commitment to meeting the broad and diverse needs of the Columbia student community ... Read More

Ramping up Manhattanville

Since the moment the first steel beam for the Jerome L. Greene Science Center rose at the new Manhattanville campus, all eyes have been focused on the visual progress as the.... Read More

Housing Introduces Incoming Students to First-Year Residence Halls

As the Class of 2020 prepared to join the Columbia community, Columbia Housing produced video introductions for each of its First-Year residence halls as a way to bring the buildings and communities to life for incoming students.

Awards and Recognition

Columbia Recognized as #2 Program by Daily Meal

Columbia Dining was recognized as the number 2 out of 75 "Best Colleges for Food in America" by Daily Meal. This is the second year the program has been included in the rankings, moving up from #3 in 2014.

McBain Renovation Project Recognized as Outstanding

The McBain Hall renovation project conducted by Aarris Atepa Architects, LLC was recognized as outstanding by American School and University Magazine. Work included new windows, lounges and study rooms, student rooms, a fitness room, bathrooms, laundry facilities and a living wall in the lobby.

Medical Services, Columbia Health Designated Medical Home by AAAHC

Columbia University Health was recognized by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) as a "medical home". Columbia Health was visited by experienced health care professionals and was measured against nationally recognized standards of care. As part of the assessment, the accreditors confirmed a number of requirements, including that Columbia Health demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining patient safety and to protecting patient privacy.

For the patient, a medical home model means that a dedicated team of care providers are available for all their primary care needs. Team based care, as exemplified by the medical home model, is considered a model for the highest quality of care.

Outstanding Achievement in Promoting Small Business & Community-Based Enterprise

Columbia University Facilities and Operations received a City & State 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Award for Outstanding Achievement in Promoting Small Business & Community-Based Enterprise in New York's real estate, construction & housing sector. Columbia has a long-term strategy of favoring small local businesses (this typically means no national chains and a preference for small, NYC-based businesses) to create an enduring, vibrant urban layer within its real estate portfolio.

Construction Industry Award Recognizes Columbia University’s Communications and Community Engagement Leadership during Construction of Manhattanville Campus

The Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA) honored Columbia University’s Manhattanville development with a leadership award for communications and community engagement. The award recognizes Columbia University’s holistic and comprehensive approach to diversity hiring, construction communications and community engagement after eight years of site work and building construction. Marcelo Velez (right), vice president of Columbia's Manhattanville Development Group, receiving the BTEA Leadership Award on behalf of David M. Greenberg, executive vice president of Columbia University Facilities and Operations, from Ralph Esposito, president of Lendlease US Construction.

Marcelo Velez Speaks at Professional Women in Construction Event

Professional Women in Construction hosted a panel discussion on campus construction projects in New York City. Marcelo Velez, vice president of the Manhattanville Development Group, participated on the panel along with Lia Gartner of The New School; Kate Bicknell of Forest City Ratner –Cornell Tech’s Development partner; Meghan Moore-Wilk of CUNY; Jean Gallagher of Pace University and moderator Sarah Epifano of Skanska. Discussions included approaches to the expansion of campuses, the importance of technology, the necessity of growth and the integration of city life for these universities.

Columbia Manhattanville Construction Honored with Safety Award for Second Consecutive Year

The construction team at Columbia’s Manhattanville development was honored with the 2015 “Safety Culture Award” by the Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA), a leading trade organization representing the 1,700 construction managers, general contractors and specialty subcontractor firms in New York City who employ 120,000 people. The honor was the second year in a row that BTEA recognized Lendlease and the Manhattanville team for their site safety practices. The Safety Culture Award is given each year to the construction manager who instills a safety-first ethos into the day-to-day culture at a construction site. When making its award to the Manhattanville team, the BTEA specifically acknowledged “Safety Week” which Lendlease organized at the site in May as an innovative contributor to support the day-to-day culture of safety.

Facilities and Operations Receives Professional Grounds Management Society Grand Award for Baker Athletics Complex

Columbia University’s Baker Athletics Complex was recognized by the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) with a Grand Award – the organization's highest honor – for exceptional athletic fields maintenance as part of the society’s 2015 Green Star Awards competition. Judges noted the complex’s “great looking turf”, “flawless maintenance of landscape”, “diverse plant and hardscape surfaces”, and sustainable practices such as composting and cool pavement.

Marcelo Velez Speaks at Greater New York Construction User Council event

Marcelo Velez, vice president of the Manhattanville Development Group, spoke at a panel event on November 4, 2015, with other prominent architects and construction technology leaders about the use of technology to assist the construction and life cycle management of buildings. His speech focused on Building Information Modeling, a technology and technique that was emerging when Columbia designed the building systems for its first buildings in Manhattanville, and has since become more widely used across the construction industry.

La-Verna Fountain Leads Panel during Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Day

La-Verna Fountain, vice president of strategic communications and construction business initiatives for Facilities and Operations, presented about Columbia University's initiatives related to minority-, women-, and locally owned (MWL) businesses during a panel discussion about minority- and women-owned business contracting as part of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Day on August 11, 2015.

La-Verna Fountain Featured at Women Builders Council Event

On July 15, 2015, the Women Builders Council brought together women from across the design and construction industries to share their experiences in building their professional careers and personal lives, including La-Verna Fountain, vice president of strategic communications and construction business initiatives, as part of the organization's "More Stories" event.

La-Verna Fountain Part of Harlem Business Alliance Panel Discussion

La-Verna Fountain, vice president of strategic communications and construction business initiatives for Facilities and Operations, joined leaders of government agencies across the city and state in a panel discussion about achieving economic equality in contracting as part of the Harlem Business Alliance's "Black Business Matters" event held November 5, 2015 at Harlem Hospital.

Brown Institute for Media Innovation Awarded LEED Gold

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute for Media Innovation a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Award for Commercial Interiors. The USGBC, the nation's foremost coalition of leaders in sustainable building design and construction, recognized the Brown Institute's design and construction in areas including energy performance, water use efficiency, use of local materials in construction, indoor enviromental quality and more. The Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Pulitzer Hall, part of the Columbia Journalism School, opened its doors in fall 2014. The space is designed to meet the Institute’s mission to develop innovations within a networked, digitized world.

Facilities and Operations Wins Energy Industry Award for Corporate Energy Management

The accolades for Columbia University’s district energy system and related energy initiatives continued when the university received the Corporate Energy Management award from the New York Association of Energy Engineers (NY-AEE) during the organization’s annual awards gala on June 21, 2016. The Corporate Energy Management award recognizes a corporation, agency, institution or organization for outstanding accomplishments in developing, organizing, managing and implementing its corporate energy management program over a period of time.

Financial highlights

FY 16 Capital Spend ($ in millions)

Comparison Summary of FY15 to FY16, Capital Spend by Campus/Sector

Campus/Sector	FY15 Total Spend	FY16 Total Spend	% of FY16 Spend	Variance FY16 less FY16	% Change
Morningside	$151.7	$139.5	36%	-$12.2	-8%
Manhattanville	$304.3	$232.6	60%	-$71.71	-24%
Property Acquisitions / Infrastructure	$23.8	$14.2	4%	-$9.6	-40%
Total	$479.8	$386.3	100%	-$93.4	-19%

Comparison Summary of FY15 to FY16, Capital Spend by Strategic Goal

Strategic Goal	FY15 Total Spend	FY16 Total Spend	% of FY16 Spend	Variance FY16 less FY15	% Change
Academic / Student Facilities	$28.3	$29.5	8%	$1.3	5%
Administration	$6.6	$13.8	4%	$7.2	110%
Expand and Strengthen Sciences	$39.0	$29.7	8%	-$9.3	-24%
Faculty / Graduate Housing	$33.1	$28.3	7%	-$4.7	-14%
Information Technology	$0.9	$0.5	0%	-$0.4	-47%
Manhattanville	$304.3	$232.6	60%	-$71.7	-24%
Academic SOGR	$44.0	$37.7	10%	-$6.3	-14%
Property Acquisitions / Infrastructure	$23.8	$14.2	4%	-$9.6	-40%
Total	$479.8	$386.3	100%	-$93.4	-19%

FY 15 Operating Expenses ($ in millions)

Comparison Summary of FY15 to FY16

FY16 Actual Expenses	FY15 Total Spend	FY16 Total Spend	% of FY16 Spend	Variance FY16 vs FY15	% Change
Residential Operations	$149.51	$151.35	34%	$1.84	-1%
Capital Project Management & Planning	$5.51	$4.48	1%	-$1.02	-19%
Manhattanville Development Group	$7.82	$10.14	2%	$2.32	30%
Academic Operations	$62.87	$64.32	14%	$1.45	2%
Manhattanville Campus Operations	$1.18	$4.80	1%	$3.61	305%
EVP Facilities & Finance & Administration	$5.17	$5.90	1%	$0.73	14%
Strategic Communications	$1.03	$1.11	0%	$0.08	7%
Real Estate	$12.87	$15.07	3%	$2.21	17%
Utilities	$31.06	$30.37	7%	-$0.69	-2%
Public Safety	$22.25	$23.92	5%	$1.67	8%
Student Services	$13.71	$13.84	3%	$0.13	1%
Campus Services	$117.01	$121.30	27%	$4.29	4%
Total Actual Expenses	$429.99	$446.61	100%	$16.62	4%

Residential Operations Expenses Summary

FY15 Residential Expenses	FY15 Total Spend	FY16 Total Spend	% of FY16 Spend	Variance FY16 vs FY15	% Change
Direct Expense	$79.68	$79.55	53%	-$0.13	0%
Indirect Expense	$16.80	$17.80	11%	$1.00	6%
Depreciation	$21.56	$22.88	14%	$1.33	6%
Debt Service	$31.47	$31.12	21%	-$0.35	-1%
Total Residential Expenses	$149.51	$151.35	100%	$1.85	1%

Comparison Summary of FY14 to FY15, Recoveries by Department

FY15 Recoveries	FY15 Total Recoveries	FY16 Total Recoveries	% of FY16 Recoveries	Variance FY16 vs FY15	% Change
Capital Project Management & Planning	-$5.75	-$6.07	8%	-$0.32	6%
Manhattanville Development Group	-$18.32	-$14.09	24%	$4.23	-23%
Academic Operations	-$23.20	-$22.46	31%	$0.74	-3%
EVP Facilities & Finance & Administration	$0.07	$0.00	0%	-$0.07	-100%
Real Estate	-$0.20	-$0.42	0%	-$0.22	106%
Utilities	-$2.54	-$2.31	3%	$0.23	-9%
Public Safety	-$11.51	-$11.87	15%	-$0.35	3%
Student Services	-$0.44	-$0.47	1%	-$0.03	7%
Campus Services	-$14.12	-$14.11	19%	$0.01	0%
Total Recoveries	-$76.02	-$71.80	100%	$4.22	-6%