NEW YORK — Touro College and University System, one of the nation’s leading non-profit Jewish higher education institutions, wants to build a new 243,305 square-foot campus at 3 Times Square.
[Photo Above: Rendering of 3 Times Square and Touro campus.]
The Midtown skyscraper for 3 Times Square is located on Seventh Avenue between 42nd and 43rd street and is owned and operated by the Rudin Family. The skyscraper is also known as the Thomson Reuters building.
In announcing the plan to build its main campus in the heart of Manhattan, Touro reaffirmed its commitment to New York City and the continued importance of in-person learning. Touro will transform eight floors of the building into classrooms, science and technology labs, offices and event space and will have a dedicated entrance and lobby on the southwest corner of 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue. The more than 2,000 staff and students who will work and attend class there daily will provide a major economic boost to local businesses, revitalizing an area traditionally frequented by tourists and office workers.
“Touro College and University System has arrived at its 50th anniversary with confidence and strength under the stellar leadership of Dr. Alan Kadish,” said Zvi Ryzman, Board Chairman of Touro College & University System. “The signing of the lease at 3 Times Square for a new state-of-the-art home for several of Touro’s world class schools and programs indicates a bright and successful future for the institution.”
Seven of Touro’s schools will be housed in the location, including the College of Pharmacy (TCOP), New York School of Career & Applied Studies (NYSCAS), Graduate School of Business (GSB), Graduate School of Education (GSE), Graduate School of Jewish Studies (GSJS), Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) and Graduate School of Technology (GST). Touro plans to officially move into the new space in January 2023.
“Throughout the 2020 and 2021 academic years, our schools and programs adapted and thrived during the transition to online and hybrid education, and we will continue to incorporate what we’ve learned to help our school and approach to education evolve,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, President of the Touro College & University System. “After conducting comprehensive surveys and thorough conversations with faculty, staff and students, we know our community places great value on in-person learning. Touro is now celebrating its 50-year anniversary and by improving our campus experience and upgrading our facilities, Touro will be well-positioned for the next 50 years.”
3 Times Square – originally constructed as the North American headquarters for Reuters Group PLC in the early 2000s – is a class A office tower that spans 885,000 square feet across 30 stories. In 2020, Rudin engaged architectural firm FXCollaborative to assist on a sweeping capital improvement program at the tower, including the creation of a new, glass-walled triple-height lobby and a sculptural façade screen designed to diffuse the light of Times Square. The building is easily accessible to Grand Central, Port Authority and Penn Station, providing an ideal campus for commuting faculty and students.
The school will build a library, academic facilities, laboratories, student lounges and cafes, according to Mr. Jeffrey Rosengarten, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Touro College and University System who led the Touro management team in this exciting new initiative.
Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro has 35 campuses and locations in New York, California, Nevada, Illinois, Berlin, Jerusalem and Moscow. New York Medical College; Touro University California and Touro University Nevada; Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division; as well as Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System.
