Tour :: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

The School of International and Public Affairs is mainly housed in the International Affairs Building (IAB), which is located at 118th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on Columbia University’s main campus. The Office of Admissions offers tours of IAB in conjunction with its information sessions (you can learn more about both and register online here). But I know that students come to SIPA from all over the world, so I wanted to provide a virtual tour for applicants who can’t make it to campus. The following photos are mainly in IAB, but there are a few other common locations where you might find SIPA students thrown in as well.

I hope you enjoy the virtual tour! (Click on each image to enlarge.)

: This is the main entrance to IAB and leads into the 4th floor (the ground floor) lobby area. This entrance also leads directly to the locker area for SIPA students and the elevators to access higher floors.

: This is the main entrance to IAB and leads into the 4th floor (the ground floor) lobby area. This entrance also leads directly to the locker area for SIPA students and the elevators to access higher floors.

: This is the main entrance to IAB and leads into the 4th floor (the ground floor) lobby area. This entrance also leads directly to the locker area for SIPA students and the elevators to access higher floors.

: This side entrance to IAB places you on the 4th floor (the ground floor) of the building and gives students easy access to any classes occurring on this floor.

: This side entrance to IAB places you on the 4th floor (the ground floor) of the building and gives students easy access to any classes occurring on this floor.

: The elevators in IAB are notorious for being slow to arrive and stopping on every floor up and down to let people on and off. There are only four elevators that service the entire building, and they become especially hectic around class times. If you have a class on a floor that’s higher than you’re willing to climb the stairs, leave extra time to get there!

: The elevators in IAB are notorious for being slow to arrive and stopping on every floor up and down to let people on and off. There are only four elevators that service the entire building, and they become especially hectic around class times. If you have a class on a floor that’s higher than you’re willing to climb the stairs, leave extra time to get there!

: The 4th floor mainly consists of classrooms and one large auditorium space. The lobby serves as both a meeting place and thoroughfare where SIPA students chat, learn about student groups and events, meet with professors, and find free food when it’s leftover after an event. The fishbowl is the open air area in the center of IAB where students can step outside for a moment without really leaving the building.

: The 4th floor mainly consists of classrooms and one large auditorium space. The lobby serves as both a meeting place and thoroughfare where SIPA students chat, learn about student groups and events, meet with professors, and find free food when it’s leftover after an event. The fishbowl is the open air area in the center of IAB where students can step outside for a moment without really leaving the building.

: The 4th floor mainly consists of classrooms and one large auditorium space. The lobby serves as both a meeting place and thoroughfare where SIPA students chat, learn about student groups and events, meet with professors, and find free food when it’s leftover after an event. The fishbowl is the open air area in the center of IAB where students can step outside for a moment without really leaving the building.

: Lockers are available for SIPA students to rent on a semester or yearly basis.

: The Office of Career Services is also located on the 4th, ground floor of IAB. This is an important office to know as OCS offers resume workshops, career advising, and coaching. You can also set up a meeting with your concentration’s dedicated adviser. A board right outside the office entrance is where students can find information on upcoming panels, networking events, and job postings. All this information is regularly emailed out, but OCS has found that students appreciate the posted reminders as well.

: Remember that staircase in the lobby area on the fourth floor? That actually leads down to Lehman Library. Lehman is SIPA’s dedicated library and is a common place for students to study and meet for group homework or office hours with Teaching Assistants. The librarians are here are very friendly and always helpful if you have a research question!

: Remember that staircase in the lobby area on the fourth floor? That actually leads down to Lehman Library. Lehman is SIPA’s dedicated library and is a common place for students to study and meet for group homework or office hours with Teaching Assistants. The librarians are here are very friendly and always helpful if you have a research question!

: Along with Lehman Library and a computer lab on the 5th floor, the hall of the 6th floor is where students can sign in and use computers in the International Affairs building. You will often find students finishing up papers, emailing, and printing documents from these work stations.

: Located on the 6th floor of the International Affairs Building, Alice’s Cafe is a common meeting spot for SIPA students. The cafe serves coffee, tea, and a few staple food items. In the evenings, this space is often used by student organizations to hold meetings, events, and happy hours!

: The Office of Student Affairs is located on the 6th floor of the International Affairs Building, at the other end of the hall from Alice’s Cafe. This office manages many of the aspects of academic life at SIPA, from registration issues to student events.

: This open area is located right outside the 6th floor entrance to the International Affairs Building. The plaza provides an easy walkway between the 6th floors of IAB and the Law School and is commonly used for special events, especially during orientation and graduation weeks. It’s also a great place to sit outside when the weather is nice!

: This open area is located right outside the 6th floor entrance to the International Affairs Building. The plaza provides an easy walkway between the 6th floors of IAB and the Law School and is commonly used for special events, especially during orientation and graduation weeks. It’s also a great place to sit outside when the weather is nice!

: The 15th floor of IAB makes it into our virtual tour because of the view you get of New York. The 15th floor is also where panels, larger events, symposiums, and receptions are often held by and for the SIPA community.

: Heading back down the 4th floor, you’ll find the law school building is connected to the International Affairs Building via a corridor on the 4th floor that is accessible just inside and to the right of IAB’s entrance on Amsterdam. This means you can pass between the buildings on rainy or cold days if needed. The law school has a library, cafe, and ample seating space open to SIPA students so it is often used by groups getting together to work on homework or to grab a quick bite.

: Heading back down the 4th floor, you’ll find the law school building is connected to the International Affairs Building via a corridor on the 4th floor that is accessible just inside and to the right of IAB’s entrance on Amsterdam. This means you can pass between the buildings on rainy or cold days if needed. The law school has a library, cafe, and ample seating space open to SIPA students so it is often used by groups getting together to work on homework or to grab a quick bite.

: Heading back down the 4th floor, you’ll find the law school building is connected to the International Affairs Building via a corridor on the 4th floor that is accessible just inside and to the right of IAB’s entrance on Amsterdam. This means you can pass between the buildings on rainy or cold days if needed. The law school has a library, cafe, and ample seating space open to SIPA students so it is often used by groups getting together to work on homework or to grab a quick bite.

: This cafe is located inside the Philosophy building. It’s included on our SIPA virtual tour because it is another common meeting space for students. It is near the International Affairs Building and offers a nice change of location. The cafe is only accessible to graduate students and offers more food and drink options than Alice’s.

: The heart of Columbia’s campus is the College Walk. It is a beautiful promenade that cuts through the center of campus from Broadway to Amsterdam. You might walk through this area every day if you commute to the International Affairs Building from the 1 train or the west side of campus. Or you might just find the steps of Low Library to be a nice place to sit in the sun and take in the view of Butler Library directly across the Walk.

: And lastly, we’ll finish up the virtual tour with a building shot of SIPA’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid office, which is located a few blocks South of the International Affairs Building, at 514 West 113th Street. The office welcomes prospective students who would like to speak with an admissions officer or current student, no appointment necessary, during business hours. This is also where students can come to discuss any financial aid questions.

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