At the northernmost tip of Manhattan, the Philip & Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center redefines what an urban athletic facility can be. Serving Columbia University’s men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams, the state-of-the-art center embodies the university’s motto of “fitness for all.” The new facility offers 12 NCAA-compliant courts—six indoors and six on the rooftop—along with training spaces, locker rooms, and social areas designed to support inclusivity, wellness, and community.
Project Name: Philip & Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center – Columbia University
Studio Name: Kingspan Light + Air
Built within the university’s Baker Athletics Complex, the center replaces an aging facility and reflects Columbia’s commitment to resilient, high-performance design that meets both athletic and environmental demands.
Challenge
Constructing a premier training center on a tight riverside footprint came with significant challenges. The site, bordered by the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, required a design that could maximize usable space without expanding outward. At the same time, the proximity to two major waterways created the need for long-term resilience against flooding. Columbia required a full-size, NCAA-compliant facility that the previous building lacked, and the design also needed to maintain strong connections to the surrounding parkland and waterfront, both visually and physically.
Solution
Perkins&Will responded with a bold vertical strategy, stacking six indoor courts above flood-resilient support spaces and placing six additional courts on the rooftop. This approach allowed the center to deliver a full-scale facility without compromising the surrounding landscape.
To enhance athlete performance and reduce energy use, Kingspan Light + Air’s UniGrid™ FRP Wall System with a Verti-Lite™ grid pattern and integrated windows was chosen for the indoor court level. The translucent panels bring in abundant diffuse daylight while minimizing glare and thermal hotspots, creating an environment where athletes can perform comfortably and consistently. Framed window openings provide curated views of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, fostering a sense of openness and connection to nature within an urban, high-performance sports setting. The vertical grid pattern of the UniGrid™ system complements the building’s façade of metal fins and white cladding, a design that references the area’s industrial and maritime history while presenting a clean, contemporary aesthetic.
Recognizing the inevitability of rising waters, the design team also implemented a wet floodproofing strategy. Rather than resisting floodwaters, the structure accommodates them through flood vents and elevated mechanical systems, allowing water to flow in and out safely during extreme weather events. This approach not only supports rapid recovery after flooding but also reduces long-term material degradation and aligns with regional sustainability and climate adaptation guidelines.
Results
The Milstein Family Tennis Center now stands as one of the most innovative collegiate athletic facilities in the country. It is among the first vertical tennis centers in the region, balancing urban space limitations with the pressing need for environmental resilience. Kingspan Light + Air’s UniGrid™ system plays a central role in delivering diffuse daylight, enhancing visual comfort, and supporting energy efficiency, while the building’s flood-resilient design ensures long-term durability.
By pairing advanced daylighting technology with climate-conscious architecture, Columbia University has created more than a tennis center. The facility is a model for the future of athletic design—one that meets the needs of today’s athletes while anticipating the environmental challenges of tomorrow.
