John Jay College Of Criminal Justice | The City University of New York

Major College Expansion Now Open

A Message from President Jeremy Travis

Today John Jay College of Criminal Justice stands at the threshold of a new chapter in our remarkable story. Founded in 1964 as a college to educate police officers in sciences and liberal arts, John Jay has transformed into the preeminent national and international leader in educating for justice –a broadly envisioned educational experience embracing social, economic, political, and criminal justice.

Every facet of John Jay drives our promise of educating for justice: Our students, with diverse backgrounds and interests, thrive on challenging educational opportunities with high social relevance. These students reflect the changing demographics of our country.

Our students define the College’s character, they are: Determined, Courageous, Dynamic, and Strong. They are open to wherever their intellectual curiosity leads them and fierce advocates for justice.

Our faculty, with expertise in a range of academic disciplines,  energize and advance research and education. They offer an enriched learning experience that highlights the themes of justice across the arts, sciences and humanities, imparting strong moral sensibilities, sharp critical reasoning and creative problem-solving skills to our students.

A critical element in our transformation has been the construction of our new building.  We have all watched it rise from an empty construction site on Eleventh Avenue to the magnificent structure that we see today. The expansion of our campus will enable us to achieve long-sought academic and professional goals. This building is a critical underpinning of John Jay's transformation into a senior college and the greatest expression of our continued commitment to "educating for justice."

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, one of the top the firms in the nation, the building is a stunning work of architecture that can proudly take its place among the great buildings of New York City.

This 620,000-square-foot building, 13-story vertical campus will house 56 state-of-the-art classrooms, new cyber lounges and cutting edge science facilities. Three hundred eleven computer stations will be added and the signature spaces will include Emergency Management and High Rise Simulator labs, a moot court, conference and exhibit spaces, a black box theater and many other educational and administrative features in a 100 percent wireless environment.

An outdoor plaza provides a remarkable outdoor rooftop commons where all members of the John Jay community can come together. Anchoring Haaren Hall to the new building, this 60,000-square-foot park-like area will feature lawn space, trees and benches that is four stories above street level. We are also deeply honored that a World Trade Center Memorial sculpture will be installed on this campus, one that commemorates the loss of over 60 members of our community on September 11, 2001.

This is a tremendous moment for John Jay. It is the culmination of many years of team effort and planning. The transformation of this College is dedicated to student success, teaching, research and scholarship, strategic partnerships and institutional effectiveness. The new building supports and fosters our commitment to these goals by enabling the John Jay College community to prepare for the celebration of our 50th Anniversary in three more years.

Thanks to the hard work and ongoing support of our outstanding faculty, students and staff, the future of John Jay is brighter than ever.

For additional information, please visit:

- Move Update 1/26/12

- Memo to Departments Moving into the New Building Tower

- @ John Jay Article
(Long-Awaited New Campus Building Opens with Ceremony & Daylong Fest)

- News on the Move - Issue #1

- News on the Move - Issue #2

- News on the Move - Issue #3

- Town Hall Update - 11/07/11

- Memo Re: Move into New Building- 10/31/11
(Memo from Senior Vice President Robert Pignatello, Office of Finance and Administration)

- Memo Re: Move Issues
(Includes resources and contact information for any move issues you may have when moving into the new building)

- Memo Re: Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Academic Advising Moves
(Memo from Vice President Richard Saulnier, Office of Enrollment Management)

- New Building Technology

- Most North Hall Classes are Moving
(Memo from Vice President Richard Saulnier, Office of Enrollment Management)

- The New Building Opening is Here

- New Building Update 10/11/11
(Memo from Senior Vice President Robert Pignatello, Office of Finance and Administration)

- Completion & Occupancy update 9/28/11
(Memo from Senior Vice President Robert Pignatello, Office of Finance and Administration)

- Quick Facts about the New Building

- Project Presentation Update
(Includes Building Plans, Completion Schedules, Construction Photos, Background Information)

- New Building Technology Components (PDF)

- Campus Plan with Room Numbers

- SOM - New Building Architect's 2011 Annual Report (PDF)

- Guidelines for Scheduling Space

- New Building Organization 

- New Food Service Operators at John Jay
(Memo from Senior Vice President Robert Pignatello, Office of Finance and Administration)