Coronavirus Update -- Building Access Prior to Mandated Shut-Down

Governor Cuomo is urging all New Yorkers to stay at home as much as possible and to keep a safe distance of six feet from others in public spaces to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. This new rule goes into effect Sunday night, March 22nd. 

In order for the Cooper community to prepare for the new “Stay at Home” directive and to be as fully prepared to work and study from home next week and go online the week of March 30th, many faculty, staff, and students have asked for permission to come to campus to remove their personal items that they left behind. We are aware that these items are essential for many to successfully continue with their studies and work.

In order to allow people to retrieve items from 41 Cooper Square, the Foundation Building and 30 Cooper Square, we will be allowing faculty, staff, and students to access those buildings during special hours. In order to adhere to social distancing requirements directed by health and state officials, anyone who wishes to enter one of the three buildings during the next three days must register to alert security that you will be coming to one or more of the buildings to collect your items. 

The building will be open:

Friday, March 20th: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday, March 21st: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sunday, March 22nd: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Please register to enter a building(s)

There will be boxes in each building lobby if you need one to carry your personal items out of the building.

If you have a bike in the lower level of the Foundation Building, we highly recommend that you remove it. You will not be able to do so after Sunday night at 8:00 pm.

Buildings and Ground staff will not be able to care for any plants that are left behind. Please remove them if you wish to care for them at home.

Starting on Monday, March 23rd, there will be limited numbers of Building and Grounds personnel on campus, and they will be there to provide only limited essential services.

There will be limited Information Technology personnel on campus as most will be able to provide services to all of us remotely. Should you come to campus, be sure to collect any technology equipment you need. If you have a question in that regard, please reach out to your designated IT staff member, or email itsupport@cooper.edu.

The health and safety of our community members is critical to us. We ask that everyone follows the sign-up procedure to ensure we limit the number of employees and/or students in the buildings to allow for social distancing.

Facilities and Security personnel will be on campus to assist you in any way that they can.

  • 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.