I-House New York: Our Big Sister

Founded in 1924 by the visionary Harry Edmonds, International House (I-House) in New York City stands as a beacon of cross-cultural exchange and understanding. The institution, constructed and completed in 1924, officially opened its doors in 1925, becoming a haven for international students and young professionals seeking a dynamic and diverse living and learning environment. Harry Edmonds, the charismatic and forward-thinking educator behind a long line of International Houses, conceived the idea of International House as a response to the challenges of a post-World War I world. The horrors of war had underscored the critical need for fostering global understanding and collaboration. Edmonds envisioned a space where individuals from different cultures, backgrounds, and nationalities could come together to live, learn, and exchange ideas, transcending boundaries and biases. The first International House, often referred to as I-House (though each subsequent I-House has co-opted the name since), was strategically located near Columbia University in Morningside Heights. The Gothic architecture of the building not only provided a distinctive physical presence but also symbolized the enduring values of education, community, and enlightenment. From its inception, the house embodied the belief that meaningful cross-cultural interactions could contribute to peace and unity on a global scale. 

The mission of Harry Edmonds and International House was clear from the start: to create an environment that nurtured international friendships, fostered leadership skills, and promoted a sense of global citizenship. Edmonds believed that bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds would break down stereotypes and build bridges of understanding. International House became a microcosm of the world, with residents hailing from a multitude of countries and cultures. It provided a space where residents could engage in meaningful dialogue, share their unique perspectives, and collaborate on projects that transcended national borders. The activities and programs at I-House were designed to encourage cultural exchange, intellectual growth, and the development of leadership qualities. Over the decades, International House has left an indelible mark on the lives of thousands of residents. Many alumni have gone on to become influential leaders in their respective fields, attributing their success in part to the enriching experiences and global perspectives gained during their time at I-House. 

Harry Edmonds’ vision and the legacy of International House endure as a testament to the power of cross-cultural understanding. The institution continues to adapt to the evolving challenges of the modern world while remaining true to its core values. Today, International House in New York City stands as a living testament to the belief that bringing people together from different corners of the world can create a positive impact, fostering a more interconnected and harmonious global community.

I was lucky enough to be in NYC for the winter break and thought it would serve as a great opportunity for the I-House Berkeley blog if I could visit our elder sister institution in NYC and learn more about the experience there and how it differs from our own. I was extremely excited when my supervisor approved the idea and gave me the contact details to get in touch with the Head of Communications at I-House NYC. 

I dropped Ms. KC Trommer an email as soon as possible, letting her know of the dates I would be in the city and if it would be possible for me to get a tour and a chance to speak to her. She replied, letting me know that she would be in her office on the 29th and would be happy to give me a tour of the place and speak to me about what I-House NYC does. I was eager to visit. 

I got up at the crack of dawn on the 29th, took the NJT train from where I was staying in the suburbs, got off at Hoboken, took the PATH to 33rd Street, and finally the 1 Line from 34th Street all the way to 125th, where I-House NYC is located. The building is very close to the Hudson River, so much so that its very address reads Riverside Drive. I walked by a park and went to the entrance and gazed upon the original building for what would become a global mission for Harry Edmonds. The building boasts subtle Gothic architecture. It’s hard to miss when walking because it’s essentially two (South and North) buildings, each over ten floors. However, the buildings themselves are in no way garish and blend in nicely with other structures in the north of the city.

I phoned KC and she was generous enough to usher me in through the entrance on the Riverside. The first thing I noticed upon entering was that the corridors were very dimly lit, a clear indication of the scant number of residents that would have stayed back during the holidays. Let me caveat that if the photos look dimly lit, it’s because I insisted on capturing the authentic essence of the space in the winter light, while a few residents were in the space and the lights were turned off. 

We went through the entrance doorway, which is card-operated, the same as I-House Berkeley. She told me that the building housed around 700 residents, from across 90 countries. That’s around fifty more residents than we house. Unlike I-House Berkeley, the NYC counterpart is not affiliated with a single university. Owing to the location it is of course popular amongst Columbia students, however, their halls cater to all NYC students. The goal of the current President is to ensure that the halls are openly accessible to as many persons from as many backgrounds as possible.

We walked from the front desk to the Main Lounge, where a lone Christmas tree still adorned the premises. There was a chandelier in the center of the lounge and a piano to one side. A few sets of lounge armchairs and tables filled up the rest of the lounge. The lounge overlooks Sakura Park outside, which is named after the many cherry blossom trees planted therein. 

We went up a floor, towards the Donald L. Cuneo Hall of History, which is similar to our own Hall of History outside the Chevron Auditorium. Similar to our Chevron, the Davis Hall is the main auditorium that the establishment utilizes for its events and for entertaining. There are flags on the three sides in front of the stage which represent all the residents in I-House NYC. I was also able to catch a glimpse of the old I-House logo on the walls adjacent to the stage, which is not unproblematic, though much like us, our NYC sibling is doing its level best to replace it with a fresh one. Interestingly, this space too has a piano in one corner that students are free to use. The Hall of History outside showcases many archived artifacts from the history of the institution, including the old typewriter of Harry Edmonds. The seating area near this display reads one of his more popular quotes and has a nice cushioned seat that overlooks the Park. There are annals on the advent of I-House all over the walls and the growth that the institutions have seen in the years since. On the same floor is a Main Lounge that is used, amongst other things, for ballroom dancing every other Wednesday in classes led by one Dr. Dance.

Once my history tour was over, we decided to walk to the actual halls and lounges where the students hang out. On the way I was impressed to see that the Chairpersons of the institution, which were on the walls of the staircases, included a long line of American Presidents amongst some other big names. We walked down the stairs and made our way towards the dining commons. The dining area does not seem particularly large at first. It also does not boast the same high ceilings and long tables as its Berkeley counterpart. However, there is a good amount of four-seater tables, with accompanying wooden chairs. The sunlight that this area gets is immense. There’s a chandelier in the center, and the decor is completed with a quaint Christmas tree on one end. Interestingly, the kitchen and serving areas allow for takeaway boxes to be filled so students can carry the food to their rooms and eat at their leisure, something I quite envied upon learning about it. The hall does not look like it could accommodate all 700 residents, over a meal window, but given the time variations in when residents arrive and the take-away option, the feat is achieved with a steady flow of residents. Interestingly, residents are required to opt in for dining services, but some residents in the North Building have full fledged kitchens as part of their accommodations, which are more apartment-like.

We then proceeded to make our way towards the game room. The game room has wooden panels decorating the walls in a subtle marina blue, that is soothing to the eye. That’s probably something you need in case competitive spirits get too heated. The game room includes a pool table, a table tennis table, a foosball table, and a sectional that is placed opposite the television in the room. It’s also a secondary entrance into the piece de resistance, the I-House NYC Pub. This pub was unfortunately closed when I went. I did, however, have a chance to peep through its windows. There’s a bar close to the wall and under the skylight. The skylight itself is a new addition to the space that lets in a plethora of natural light to a nice setting for refreshments. Unlike our own Edmond’s Cafe, this is a full bar and not limited to beer and wine, something I quite envied the moment I heard it. There’s an elevated stage on one end of the pub for performances. It’s open well into the night so it has ample seating and space with enough room to entertain students during events such as a pre- (or post-) game for Sunday Supper.

Once we covered the pub, we went to the kitchen space, which is something that students can subscribe to to use. It’s similar to the Sproul Room if it were only a kitchen. Naturally, it’s a much smaller space and can only be used for cooking and storing supplies. A few stairs down the kitchen space is what used to be a rooftop tennis court, which is now a patio that is closed for the winter. However, the views are absolutely stunning and put you right in the thick of the rooftops of the locality. These are all part of the original South Building. The North building was purchased in the 80s, opening later for access in the 1990s. Interestingly, the South building has recently acquired a dry cleaning machine for its laundry rooms, which is something I would quite like the Berkeley institution to have since it would help me clean my woolens. 

We also stopped shortly to see the gym, attached to the south building, adjacent to the rooftop patio/ex-tennis court. It comes equipped fully with showers for residents to use after their workouts. I personally don’t work out as much, but knowing my peers, we would absolutely love an attached gym at our residence. 

The North building consists of proper apartments, so at times whole families are staying there. There is also a fair number of prestigious Obama scholars staying in this building. Interestingly, 11 of the 12 Obama Scholars at Columbia University are housed at I-House NYC. We tried going up to the terrace, but since it was closed, we managed merely to take in the gorgeous views of the NYC rooftops.

We then went down into the archives where I noticed a commendation from the city of New York for the Golden Jubilee of the institution. There were stacks of what I can only assume were important archival papers. All of this is intended to be digitized in the coming year. I had a chance to ask KC about their plans for the Centennial year of their institution (2024, since they’re six years older than we are). They plan to have a weekend where they want to invite alumni and host a guest speaker and various Centennial events. Their plans also include satellite events, social media events including a Centennial toolkit for alums, etc. 

Apart from the gym for workouts, we also went to another ‘gym’ which was a full-fledged basketball court, complete with padded walls and a hardwood floor. The walls also had goals that were the appropriate size for a 5-a-side football (you know I’ll never say soccer) game. 

Finally, we made our way up to one of the rooms in the residence halls which was unoccupied. The room overlooked Sakura Park, the Church, and the Manhattan School of Music. There was a direct view of the buildings and a lot of sunlight. If the person who resides in the room we saw cranes their neck enough, they’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of the George Washington Bridge. Interestingly, the room also had a wash basin inside, which is something students can opt for at a premium. I wondered why they’d need it and then I realized they can take their food to go, so it would be convenient to have a space to wash one’s hands. The single room is smaller than our double rooms (which are smaller than our single rooms, something that refuses to make sense to me). 

I-House NYC does not have its own library. They do have a lot of public libraries nearby and residents generally rely on the libraries of the Universities where they’re studying. There are enough resources nearby that are publicly accessible apart from University libraries. However, there is a meeting room, the Dodge Room, that students use as a place for quiet study and work. 

I had some time on my own to explore the place, and, with a bit of time left, I went up to the tenth floor of the South Building to get some good views. This building also houses the terraces on the 9th floor, which I only had a chance to glimpse since they were also closed for vacations. I managed to catch some views of the lounges on the floor and the views from there including a terrace space from a lower floor. The floor also included an intimidating-looking door that led up to what I can only assume was the roof, given the profligate warning signs around it. 

I ran into one of the residents who saw me looking very out of place with my camera as I took photographs of the views. She told me she’s a student at the Manhattan School of Music, which is right across the street, so I could relate as a Berkeley Law student. We spoke for a while about what a resident would get up to over the holidays and she told me she’s been doing as a resident what I’d spent the past week doing as a tourist: visiting museums and galleries. She gave me a long list of museums to visit (none of which I managed to go to) and wished me luck with work and this blog. 

As I prepared my exit, I stopped by the mailroom which looks a little more corporate than our own Harry Potter-like space. I finally snaked around the winding corridors and landed where I’d started. KC was thoughtful enough to lend me a book on the history of I-House NYC and the journey thus far. I’m sure the book will be a fine addition to our library or wherever we choose to place it in our halls (once I’m finished reading it, of course).

All in all, the experience was extremely enriching. There’s a warmth that the establishment lent to me, maybe because I went in as a resident of a sister establishment. The place is inviting, warm, and very well-maintained. Of course, the platinum white walls and the low ceilings don’t offer the same warmth that the more traditional decor of the Berkeley establishment does, but there is still that holiday hubbub in the air and students strut the same way, knowing they’re the very finest in their fields and affiliated with the very best of organizations. We only hope that they strive to reach greater excellence in the next century and that we stay hot on their coattails, for I-House Berkeley’s centennial is now just six years away.