Public Spaces at Audubon

When people think of the Audubon Biomedical Science and Technology Park, the word research comes to mind more often than the words art, tourism and history. Audubon Park, however, also houses gallery spaces, an interactive display on New York City, and a visitors information center.

An untitled piece by Rogelio Mendoza

Art at Audubon

In partnership with the West Harlem Art Fund, Audubon Park presents ongoing art exhibits in the lobbies of the Mary Woodard Lasker Biomedical Research Building and the Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion. The two locations feature exhibits from urban, contemporary, African and Latino artists. “Art is extremely powerful because it demands thought and evokes the ability for a society to heal itself,” says art fund founder Savona Bailey McClain. “We are very pleased with our partnership with Columbia and Audubon Park.” A recent exhibit featured the work of local artist Rogelio Mendoza. The native of Guadalajara, Mexico studies at the New School in New York.

Ms. McClain says the art fund “will continue to provide soul-stirring exhibitions and encourage Columbia students to visit, provide feedback, and even participate.”

Audubon Kiosk

Audubon kiosk

Need information from New York City’s consumer affairs department but don’t have time for a trip to City Hall? Then stop by the electronic kiosk in the Lasker Building’s lobby. The kiosk provides access, in English and Spanish, to nine city agencies including the finance, buildings, and health departments.

The Audubon kiosk, one of 38 throughout the five boroughs, is part of a city Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications project called City Access. It aims to connect residents, tourists and business owners with municipal departments and databases.

You can pay property taxes, research licensing requirements, check job listings or print out business tips by following simple on-screen directions and inserting your credit or debit card when payment is involved. The kiosk is available to the public during normal business hours.

A recent Crain’s article quoted Daniel Moy, City Access project director, as saying that the kiosks “…create an electronic City Hall that makes it easy for citizens and businesses to do business with the city in an extended window of time.”

Empowerment Zone Information Wagon

Empowerment Zone information wagon

As part of a new effort to promote tourism and economic development in Upper Manhattan, a cart with information on the area’s historic sites and tourist attractions is available for visitors in the lobby of the Mary Woodard Lasker Biomedical Research Building. During the summer, the cart is located on the corner of West 166th Street and Broadway.

The cart is one of four that the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone has placed in strategic locations throughout the area. Through this program, called Uptown Ambassadors, college students from Harlem, East Harlem, Inwood and Washington Heights are trained to staff the wagons and help tourists and residents navigate their neighborhoods. During the summer, one English- and one Spanish-speaking student are available throughout the day to provide items such as brochures from local cultural institutions or menus from area restaurants.

“You’d be surprised how many people don’t know what’s in their own community,” said Charlene A. Patterson, a student who worked at a wagon and was quoted in a July New York Times article. “You don’t need to go all the way downtown to experience the arts.”

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