Commencement 2014 Photo Gallery

On May 28, 2014 the 155th commencement of The Cooper Union was held in The Great Hall. The student address was presented by Laura S. Genes AR'14. The commencement address was presented by Shigeru Ban AR'84, recent recipient of the Pritzker Prize. In his remarks Mr. Ban characterized his experience at The Cooper Union as, "the most difficult time in my life." Known for his work aiding post-disaster areas, Mr. Ban concluded his remarks with: "You have a big responsibility to society, but not just the society around you. Now that the world is so globalized, if you want to be happy or to make your family happy or make your country happy you have to go out and make the whole world happy and peaceful."

Photos by Joao Enxuto

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.