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Cornell Alumni help shape the student experience

Aerial photo of the NCRE.
 

Upon completion in fall 2022, the North Campus Residential Expansion (NCRE) will be Cornell’s latest significant step toward enhancing the first- and second-year student experience. And with the recent support of two Cornell alumni, Barbara Novick '82 and Michael Chiu '66, students will have even more opportunities to connect and form community starting with their first day on campus.

“In addition to a strong academic program, many students are looking for positive experiences outside the classroom. This includes the quality of their living space, the broad range of activities available to them, and the opportunity to make lifelong friends. NCRE is making a powerful change to the housing stock and amenities available for first-year students and sophomores,” says Barbara.

Echoing that sentiment and a passion for providing Cornell students with "Living and Learning" spaces, Michael Chiu says, “We delved very deeply into the master-planning, organization, layout, specifications, and aesthetics of the new buildings. The opportunity to join other like-minded alumni, toward enhancing and sustaining the quality of campus life while future generations of students will focus on their pursuit of knowledge is very rewarding.” He refers to the project as “ushering in the campus renewal transformation” and is grateful to be a part of it.

Aerial photo of the NCRE, including the turf field.

The first phase of NCRE opened in fall 2021 and welcomed the addition of Morrison Dining, Morrison Fitness, Crossing’s Café, openstudy and community lounge spaces for all campus residents, and residential living spaces designed to support the various stages of the Cornell student experience. Opening this fall, the three final residences — Barbara McClintock Hall, Hu Shih Hall, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall — will bring forth residential spaces designed specifically to meet the varied needs of first-year students during a transformative time in their lives. Residential layouts support building connections with other students which provides the foundation that will support first-year students throughout their time at Cornell. This final phase of NCRE also includes refinished tennis courts, a new turf field for recreational activities, and the addition of Novick’s Café within Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall and the Michael W.N. Chiu 1966 and Shirley N. Chiu Lounge located within Hu Shih Hall.

Novick’s Café is an informal cafe and eatery offering coffee, specialty desserts, and gourmet sandwiches in a bright and inviting space for students to connect with one another in their home. "I wanted to give back in an area that would impact many students,” Barbara says. “The naming of the dorm for Ruth Bader Ginsburg — who attended Cornell and spent her career paving the way for women — spoke to me. Naming the cafe in this particular dorm was a perfect fit. I hope Novick’s Cafe becomes a favorite place to hang out with friends as well as meet new people.

”When complete this summer, the 3,775 sf Michael W.N. Chiu 1966 and Shirley N. Chiu Lounge will greatly contribute to the sense of community in Hu Shih Hall where residents will come together to cook, study, watch TV, and spend time with one another. The vision for the NCRE buildings was to have open floor plans on the ground floor to encourage student engagement — as students walk by active open spaces like this lounge, they will be drawn in and feel more included as part of their residential communities.

Michael and his wife Shirley are passionate about this investment and are motivated for several reasons to make this contribution to NCRE. At the top of his list, Michael says, is honoring “my parents for enabling and paying for my education in the US and Switzerland, with exposure to Europe overall, that has paved the way in rounding out my many rough edges in my personal, professional and career growth and development.” Michael is grateful to honor Hu Shih, for whom the residence hall is named, and to “help pay tribute to the all-important aspects of Cornell on the quality of student life, welfare and campus life regardless of which part of the world they come from.” Michael hopes to motivate other alumni to support Cornell as well.  

The 776,000-square-foot complex created by NCRE will house all first-year students and many second-year students, allowing relationships to form and flourish among the newest members of Cornell’s community. Learn more about this exciting project and addition to Cornell’s campus at news.cornell.edu.