Ithaca campus
Cornell University's main campus is located in Ithaca, New York, on East Hill, offering views of the city and Cayuga Lake. The campus has expanded to approximately 745 acres (301 ha) since its founding, now including multiple academic buildings, laboratories, administrative facilities, athletic centers, auditoriums, museums, and residential areas. In 2011, Travel + Leisure recognized Cornell's campus in Ithaca as one of the most beautiful in the United States, praising its unique blend of architectural styles, historic landmarks, and picturesque surroundings.The Ithaca campus is characterized by an irregular layout and a mix of architectural styles that developed over time through successive master plans. More ornate buildings generally predate World War II, while later construction reflects modernist and contemporary styles.
Several Cornell University buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Andrew Dickson White House, Bailey Hall, Caldwell Hall, the Computing and Communications Center, Morrill Hall, Rice Hall, Fernow Hall, Wing Hall, Llenroc, and Deke House. Morrill Hall has also been designated a National Historic Landmark. Three other listed historic buildings, the original Roberts Hall, East Roberts Hall, and Stone Hall, were demolished in the 1980s to make way for new campus buildings and development.
The majority of Cornell University's academic and administrative facilities are located on its main campus in Ithaca. Architectural styles range from ornate Collegiate Gothic, Victorian, and Neoclassical buildings to more spare international and modernist structures. Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of Central Park, proposed a "grand terrace" overlooking Cayuga Lake in one of the earliest plans for the development of the campus.
North Campus is primarily residential, with ten residence halls for first- and second-year students and housing for transfer students in the Townhouse Community. The West Campus House System showcases a blend of architectural styles, including Gothic-style buildings and residence halls collectively known as "the Gothics".
In Collegetown, located near the campus in Ithaca, the architectural styles are diverse, reflecting the area's mixed-use nature. The Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts and two upper-level residence halls are surrounded by a variety of apartment buildings, eateries, and businesses.
Cornell University's main campus in Ithaca is located in the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York and features views of the city, Cayuga Lake, and surrounding valleys. The campus is bordered by two gorges, Fall Creek Gorge and Cascadilla Gorge. The gorges are popular swimming spots during warmer months, but their use is discouraged by the university and city code due to potential safety hazards. Adjacent to the main campus, Cornell owns the 2,800 acres (1,100 ha) Cornell Botanic Gardens, which feature cultivated gardens, arboretum collections, and natural areas.
Cornell University has implemented several green initiatives designed to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact, including a gas-fired combined heat and power facility, an on-campus hydroelectric plant, and a lake source cooling system. In 2007, Cornell established a Center for a Sustainable Future. The same year, following a multiyear, cross-campus discussion about energy and sustainability, Cornell's Atkinson Center for Sustainability was established, funded by an $80 million gift from alumnus David R. Atkinson ('60) and his wife Patricia, the largest gift ever received by Cornell from an individual at the time. A subsequent $30 million commitment in 2021 will name a new building on campus.
As of 2020, the university, which committed to achieving net carbon neutrality by 2035, operates six solar farms that provide 28 megawatts of power. Cornell is developing an enhanced geothermal system, known as Earth Source Heating, designed to meet campus heating needs.
In 2023, Cornell was the first university in the nation to commit to Kyoto Protocol emission reductions. The same year, a concert held at Barton Hall by Dead & Company raised $3.1 million for MusiCares and the Cornell 2030 Project, which contributed to establishing the Climate Solutions Fund to catalyze large-scale climate research across the university, administered by the Atkinson Center.
