Building Access Policy

Access to the Foundation Building and 41 Cooper Square is only allowed during posted building hours.

Students, Faculty and Staff

Students, faculty and staff seeking entry to our academic buildings (41 Cooper Square and The Foundation Building at 7 East 7th Street) must swipe in with a current Cooper Union ID card at the security desk in each building. To swipe in, tap your ID card on the card reader at the desk. If you have forgotten or lost your ID card you will be permitted to enter after the security officer verifies that you are an active staff/faculty/student. Students must sign-in to the log at the security desk. Replacement ID cards can be obtained from the Facilities Management Office in Room 111 of 41 Cooper Square, or by emailing security@cooper.edu.

Visitors

To enter our academic buildings, visitors must present valid photo identification (driver’s license, DMV issued non-driver id, passport or military identification) to the security officer and sign in. The security officer will contact the person being visited to confirm the appointment. Should staff or faculty be expecting a visitor, this information can be emailed ahead of time to security@cooper.edu. If the visitor is going to an event, the security officer will confirm the details of the event with the visitor.

Student Guest Policy (Academic Buildings)

  • No visitors can be admitted to The Cooper Union without written permission. Requests for a Visitor Pass must be made through the Department Office of each school during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Visitors are not permitted on campus after 10:00 PM.
  • The student must present the Visitor Pass obtained from the department’s office to the security desk in order to admit the visitor. All visitors to Cooper Union’s academic buildings must present a photo ID (driver’s license, DMV issued non-driver’s ID, passport, military identification). Visitors must also sign the Guest Log located at the security desk. Visitors must be prepared to show the Visitor Pass to security officers upon request while they are on campus and must surrender the pass to the security desk once their visit has ended.
  • The guest pass, when issued by a Deans’ or Director’s office, reads "Void." To use the pass, the visitor will present the pass to a security officer at either academic building. The security officer will confirm the visitor’s identification and will then place a special white sticker over the word “Void”, activating the pass. The pass will "self-expire" 24 hours later as the word “Void” bleeds through the white sticker.
  • Due to strict liability and insurance considerations, visitors may not use any of the technical facilities or equipment of the school and may not assist students with the construction of their projects.

Alumni Access

In addition to the public spaces open on campus alumni have access to the following using their Alumni ID card:

  • The Library, in the Foundation Building, except during extended hours at the end of each semester
  • The Alumni Roof Terrace, in 41 Cooper Square, during the following hours:
    September 1st through November 15th : 
    Monday – Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm
    April 1st through June 1st:  
    Monday – Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm
    June 1st through August 31st : 
    Monday – Thursday 10:00am to 6:00pm

 

For access outside of these hours, permission must be obtained from a current faculty or staff member, and the information sent to security@cooper.edu from a valid Cooper Union email address.

Alumni are not permitted to bring any guests on campus without the approval of the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development.

Alumni may be required by campus security to display a state-issued ID in tandem with their Alumni ID card.

Campus access privileges may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the Director of Campus Safety and Security.

You may request an Alumni ID card from the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development at alumni@cooper.edu.

Retiree Access

In addition to the public spaces open on campus retirees have access to the following areas:

  • The Library, in the Foundation Building, except during extended hours at the end of each semester
  • The Alumni Roof Terrace, in 41 Cooper Square, during the following hours:
    • September 1st through May 31st Monday – Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • June 1st through August 31st Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

For access outside of these hours, permission must be obtained from a current faculty or staff member, and the information sent to security@cooper.edu from a valid Cooper Union email address.

Retirees are not permitted to bring any guests on campus without approval.

A list of current retirees is maintained at the security desk in each building. Upon arrival, retirees should provide state-issued ID to the security officer who will verify their status.

Campus access privileges may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the Director of Campus Safety and Security.

  • 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.