In a surprise announcement this September, Columbia signaled it would be demolishing the old McDonald's on West 125th Street. The university had quietly purchased the fast food restaurant six years ago at the same time it was expanding its Manhattanville campus across the street.
Now comes word that the school will be building in its place a 34-story tower at 600 West 125th Street that will house students and faculty.
According to the filed plans, McDonald's will return as the ground-floor tenant. The rest of the building will be residential, including 142 apartments plus a lounge, gym, library, and play room.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2020 and finish up by September 2022.
