Through research on alternative user groups and private and public access to cooling centers on the Upper West Side, I discovered that efficient cooling methods, like swimming in pools, are accessible to the public. With climate change and the prolonged high-temperature weather, this area needs more cool space, and the definition of a cooling center needs to be further expanded. This project focuses on how Columbia University could better serve its surrounding community by transforming parts of the campus into multi-functional cooling centers that support neighborhood residents, students, and faculty members.
