University Village

University Village is a complex of three concrete towers in Greenwich Village, standing between Houston and Bleecker Streets. The buildings feature deeply recessed windows and sheer walls that create a bold architectural presence in the neighborhood.

New York University acquired the southernmost superblock in 1960 as part of a redevelopment initiative called Washington Square Southeast. Construction of the complex took place between 1964 and 1966, reshaping the residential landscape of the neighborhood.

The central plaza features a concrete sculpture titled Bust of Sylvette, created by Pablo Picasso and executed by Carl Nesjar. This artwork has become a gathering point for students and visitors moving through the university and neighborhood.

The complex is easily reached on foot from Washington Square with good public transportation connections nearby. The central plaza is open to visitors and makes for a pleasant place to walk through the neighborhood.

The buildings exemplify brutalist architecture influenced by Le Corbusier, with distinctive horizontal window bays that create shifting patterns of shadow and light. This window arrangement has become the signature feature of the complex and an important example of 1960s architectural design.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1966

Architects: James Ingo Freed

Official opening: 1967

Architectural style: modern architecture

Floors above the ground: 30

GPS coordinates: 40.72667,-73.99861

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:44