How USTA Tennis Venue Services brought Columbia University to new heights

In February 2023, Columbia University opened the state-of-the-art Philip & Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center, situated on the banks of a channel that joins the Hudson and Harlem rivers at the upper tip of Manhattan. Designed by architectural firm Perkins&Will and taking full advantage of its river views, the world-class, 12-court facility is in a beautifully landscaped area of the Baker Athletics Complex. And it quickly has become a key venue for not just college play, but community play, too.

With six indoor courts and six outdoor rooftop courts, the 66,000-square-foot Milstein center serves as the home court for the Columbia men’s and women’s varsity teams, but is also available for use by students, staff, alumni, anyone working in any of the hospitals affiliated with Columbia, and for others through a membership model available to anyone.

The $50 million center also houses locker rooms, a strength and conditioning area, a student-athlete lounge, coaches’ offices, conference rooms, meeting spaces and hospitality areas. Additionally, the new facility features numerous spectator amenities such as a high-resolution scoreboard with video capacity, and chairback seating at all courts. The new center replaced a long-outmoded indoor tennis facility on the same site that consisted of an air-supported bubble, but now, with the new rooftop courts, it also brought Columbia in compliance with the NCAA recommendation that matches be held outdoors.

The USTA’s Tennis Venue Services group worked with Columbia University’s Peter Pilling, who is the Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, and the tennis management staff to help develop the business narrative for the new facility, which included consulting on a plan for operations and staff, the management structure and the financial model.