NYU Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near NYU (New York University)
Why Walk NYU Campus
NYU has no traditional enclosed campus — instead, its buildings are threaded through Greenwich Village and lower Manhattan, identified by purple NYU flags and torch logos. Washington Square Park, with its iconic marble arch, serves as the de facto quad. The Bobst Library, a 12-story Brutalist landmark designed by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster, anchors the south side of the park with its dramatic sandstone-and-granite facade. The Tisch School of the Arts occupies buildings along Broadway, training filmmakers, playwrights, and performers. The Stern School of Business sits in the Henry Kaufman Management Center on West 4th Street. The Tandon School of Engineering is across the East River in Brooklyn's MetroTech Center.
About NYU
Founded
1831
Type
Private, nonsectarian research university
Setting
Urban. The main campus is centered on Washington Square in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, with buildings dispersed across the area rather than within a gated campus. NYU also operates degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.
Enrollment
About 60,000 students total across all campuses, with roughly 29,000 undergraduates; one of the largest private universities in the United States.
Mascot
The Bobcat (named after the BobCat library catalog system). Athletic teams are the Violets; the school colors are violet and white.
Free NYU Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free NYU campus tour with audio narration. Explore Washington Square Park, Bobst Library, Tisch School of the Arts, plus hidden spots like Grey Art Gallery and Torch Club at Kimmel Center, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
explore by interest
Must-See Spots at NYU
- •Washington Square Park — the de facto campus quad centered on the 1895 marble Washington Arch, surrounded by NYU buildings
- •Bobst Library — Philip Johnson's 12-story Brutalist library with a soaring atrium interior and geometric facade on Washington Square South
- •Tisch School of the Arts — NYU's renowned performing arts school on Broadway, training students in film, drama, dance, and interactive media
- •Skirball Center for the Performing Arts — a 860-seat theater on LaGuardia Place hosting dance, music, and theater performances
Signature Architecture
- •Elmer Holmes Bobst Library — Completed 1973, designed by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster. A 12-story red sandstone cube on the south side of Washington Square Park, with a dramatic atrium floored in a black-and-white geometric pattern.
- •Silver Center for Arts and Science (Main Building) — On Washington Square East, fronting the park. A core academic building for the College of Arts and Science; the adjacent Brown Building, now part of NYU, was the site of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
- •Kimmel Center for University Life — Opened 2003 at 60 Washington Square South. The main student center; its upper-floor lounges and the Rosenthal Pavilion offer some of the best direct views over Washington Square Park.
- •Brown Building (formerly the Asch Building) — At 23-29 Washington Place. Site of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that killed 146 garment workers; now houses NYU science departments and bears commemorative plaques.
Hidden Corners of NYU
- •Grey Art Gallery — NYU's fine arts museum on Washington Square East with rotating exhibitions of contemporary and historical art
- •Torch Club at Kimmel Center — the rooftop lounge atop the Kimmel Center for University Life offers views of the Village and One World Trade Center
Notable Alumni
- •Martin Scorsese (filmmaker, Tisch School of the Arts)
- •Lady Gaga (musician, attended Tisch before leaving)
- •Alan Greenspan (former Federal Reserve Chairman, BA/MA/PhD in economics)
- •Spike Lee (filmmaker, Tisch graduate film program)
- •Billy Crystal (actor and comedian, Tisch)
- •Adam Sandler (actor and comedian, Tisch graduate)
Campus Traditions
- •Strawberry Festival: an annual spring event where students help build a very large strawberry shortcake, tied to a folk etymology of 'Greenwich Village' (the 'green' once being strawberry fields).
- •Violet 100: spring spirit-week celebrations and class events organized around the Violet identity.
- •Graduation at Yankee Stadium: NYU's all-university commencement is held in the Bronx ballpark, with thousands of graduates in violet gowns.
- •Washington Square Park as the de facto campus quad: students gather around the fountain and arch for studying, performances, and protests.
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Mamoun's Falafel on MacDougal Street, a cheap Middle Eastern counter open late and a longtime student staple.
- •Joe's Pizza on Carmine Street, a classic New York slice shop steps from campus.
- •Artichoke Basille's Pizza on MacDougal Street, known for its thick artichoke slice and late hours.
- •The food carts and halal carts around Washington Square and along West 4th Street for quick, inexpensive meals.
Did you know? NYU has no traditional enclosed campus. Instead of a quad with gates, its buildings are interspersed among ordinary Manhattan apartments, shops, and businesses around Greenwich Village, with the university's violet flags marking its presence. Washington Square Park, which functions as the campus heart, was built over what was once a potter's field and public burial ground.
Visiting NYU
NYU's Office of Undergraduate Admissions runs information sessions and student-led campus walking tours; register in advance through the official admissions website (admissions.nyu.edu), as walk-ins are not guaranteed. Tours typically start from the admissions area near Washington Square; bring photo ID since many buildings require swipe access and are not open to the public. There is no central student parking and the campus is car-unfriendly, so use the subway (West 4th Street-Washington Square on the A/B/C/D/E/F/M lines, or 8th Street-NYU on the R/W). Washington Square Park itself is public, open daily, and the best free way to get a feel for the campus.
Walking Tip
There is no single campus to walk — NYU is the Village itself. Start at Washington Square Arch, face south toward Bobst Library, then loop along West 4th Street past academic buildings. Purple flags mark NYU territory.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. Fall and spring semesters (September-May) have the most campus energy. Washington Square Park is lively from April through October. Summer brings fewer students but the Village stays vibrant.
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