Casa Italiana facts for kids
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Casa Italiana
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(2014)
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1151–1161 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York |
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| Built | 1926–27 |
| Architect | William M. Kendall |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001188 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1982 |
The Casa Italiana is a special building at Columbia University in New York City. It's located on Amsterdam Avenue between West 116th and 118th Streets, in an area called Morningside Heights. This building is home to the university's Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America.
It was built between 1926 and 1927. The design was created by William M. Kendall from the famous architecture firm McKim, Mead & White. He designed it in the Renaissance style, making it look like a grand 15th-century palazzo (a large, impressive building) from Rome. In 1996, the building was restored and updated by Buttrick White & Burtis with Italo Rota.
Contents
History of Casa Italiana
How the Casa Italiana Began
In the 1920s, Italian student groups at Columbia and Barnard colleges, like il Circulo Italiano, really wanted a place for Italian culture. They worked hard to get support for a "Casa Italiana" project. The president of Columbia University, Nicholas Murray Butler, liked the idea a lot.
Students and a judge named John J. Freschi led the effort to raise money for the building in New York. They also got help from New York developers Joseph Paterno, Anthony Campagna, and Michael Paterno. These developers built the Casa Italiana and paid for all the costs that weren't covered by donations.
A Center for Italian Culture
On Columbus Day in 1927, a special document was given to Columbia University. It said that the university should use the building as a cultural center. Its purpose was to be "the center and seat of Italian language, literature, history and art." It also stated that the gift was for "the spread of Italian culture in this country."
For 63 years, the Casa Italiana was a lively cultural and social hub. It was used by Columbia students and the wider Italian American community. Some Renaissance furniture and portraits were even donated to the building. Dr. Charles Paterno generously gave 20,000 leather-bound books and money for the Casa's first library.
Design and Appearance
The architects, McKim, Mead & White, were also responsible for planning Columbia's campus. They created an amazing neo-Renaissance design for the Casa Italiana. It was covered in limestone, which made it stand out from almost all other buildings on campus, except for the very grand Low Library. The building, designed to look like Roman palazzi from the Renaissance, opened in 1927.
Changes Over Time
In 1991, the country of Italy bought the Casa Italiana for $17.5 million. They then leased it back to Columbia University for 500 years. After this, the building went through some big changes. The Paterno Library was moved to the Butler Library, and the Italian Department moved from the Casa Italiana to Hamilton Hall.
The Casa building then became the home of the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies. This is a special center for research in humanities (like history and literature) and sciences. Its new goal was "to offer a special view of Europe from an Italian perspective." A board of guarantors oversees the Italian Academy. Half of these board members are chosen by the university, and the other half by the Italian government.
Legal Challenge and Landmark Status
In 2012, a group called the Italic Institute, along with the Paterno Family, felt that Columbia University was not using the building exactly as it was originally intended. They believed the university had changed the building from a cultural center for students and the Italian Department into a research facility that was more restricted. However, the New York State Supreme Court dismissed this case, meaning they did not make a decision on the main issue.
The Casa Italiana is one of only three buildings on Columbia's campus that has been officially recognized by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. It received this status in 1978. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, which means it's considered an important historical place in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Italiana para niños
