The NYU Abu Dhabi campus on Saadiyat Island, scheduled to open in 2014, will be located in the Cultural District, one of seven distinctive districts currently under development. Rafael Viñoly Architects PC has been hired to oversee the master planning process, which will establish the physical and spatial framework for development of the campus.
The campus will consist of state-of-the-art educational facilities with extensive classroom, library, and information technology facilities; laboratories; academic buildings; dormitories; faculty and residential housing; student services; and athletic and performance facilities.
Fast Facts on Saadiyat Island
- Saadiyat Island is a large, low-lying natural island located 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi. To be completed in 2018, Saadiyat Island is expected to become Abu Dhabi's cultural center.
- Saadiyat Island will eventually house approximately 150,000 residents and will be connected to Abu Dhabi via two ten-lane causeways.
- Saadiyat Island will also be home to four museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, and the Maritime Museum. It will also include a world-class performing arts center.
- Foundational work on the Louvre Abu Dhabi began in May 2009, and the 260,000-square-foot museum is scheduled to open in 2013. Designed by Jean Nouvel, it will showcase art from around the world, with a focus on bridging the gap between Eastern and Western art.
- Saadiyat Island will be home to the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The Frank Gehry-designed building is due for completion in 2013 and, at 450,000 square feet, will be the largest Guggenheim Museum in the world.
Related Links
Saadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi Tourism Development & Investment Company)
