BOATHOUSES

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QUICK FACTS

Official Names: 1929 Boathouse, Gould-Remmer Boathouse
1929 Boathouse Date Opened: Summer 2001
Gould-Remmer Boathouse Date Opened: originally in 1895, moved to current location in 1989
Seating Capacity:
Surface/Structure: Two houses, three 21x76-foot boat storage bays, 2,000-square foot aerobic training room
Location: Baker Athletics Complex, Inwood-Manhattan, New York City
Address: 505 West 218^th Street, New York, N.Y. 10034

THE FACILITY

Columbia’s three rowing programs have the benefit of two boathouses: the 1929 Boathouse, a newly designed shell house which mostly stores the boats and equipment, and the Gould-Remmer Boathouse, an administrative house for meetings. The buildings sit side-by-side at one of the most picturesque locations in New York City, aside from beautiful Inwood Hill Park overlooking the confluence of the Harlem and Hudson Rivers and the famed Spuyten Duyvil.

The two buildings come from completely different architectural styles, one representing the past and the other the present.

In the summer of 2001, Columbia completed construction of the 1929 Boathouse, which was built through the generous contributions of Columbia Rowing supporters. The newest rowing facility in the Ivy League, the facility features a three-bay shell house, complete with an upper level that includes an erg and weight room and a beautiful meeting area overlooking the water.

Immediately next to the 1929 Boathouse stands the Gould-Remmer Boathouse, which was originally constructed in 1895 as the Gould Boathouse at 116th Street on the Hudson River. It was relocated to its current site, and in 1989, was renamed to honor the late Eugene H. Remmer ‘40CC, ‘41SEAS, a varsity oarsman and longtime supporter of Columbia Athletics.

Steeped in tradition, Gould-Remmer still has its 19th-Century facade, adorned with a large Columbia crew crest. Inside, the only room that hasn't been modernized is the meeting room, which resembles the den of a 19th-Century mansion more closely than a conference room. The paneled walls and velvet armchairs are awash with a warm glow from two antique chandeliers and a large fireplace. The room's most notable feature is the catalogue of names displayed on its walls. Each panel lists the men's senior heavyweight team of that year, dating as far back as 1883. Along with the teams, Columbia's memorable races are carved in larger panels next to the door. These engravings gauge the changes to the team over the years.

The boathouses are part of Columbia’s Baker Athletics Complex, which houses the Dick Savitt Tennis Center, Robert K. Kraft at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, which is used for football and lacrosse; the Columbia Softball Complex, Columbia Field Hockey Stadium; Rocco Commisso Soccer Stadium and Robertson Field at Satow Baseball Stadium. The facility provides a close, family-like atmosphere to be enjoyed by Columbia’s student-athletes.

The tract of land on which the Baker Athletics Complex stands was purchased for the University on December 30, 1921 by financier George F. Baker. Then a $700,000 gift, the 26-acre area was dedicated in April, 1922 and hosted spring football practice that same year. In the fall, Columbia's football team continued to practice uptown, but played its games at South Field on the Morningside Heights Campus. The first stadium at the site, then known as Baker Field, opened in the fall of 1923 with 15,000 seats in temporary stands. Five years later, the University built the 32,000 wooden-seat stadium that served Columbia fans for 55 years, until the spring of 1983.

Baker has been upgraded several times since 2005, including state-of-the-art surfaces for all of Columbia's teams that compete at Baker Athletics Complex. Columbia's baseball, field hockey, softball and soccer teams all play on sport-specific surfaces for their respective sports.

COLUMBIA BOATHOUSE AMENITIES

Home for Columbia’s heavyweight, lightweight and women’s rowing teams
Three 21x76-foot storage bays in shell house
2,000-square foot aerobic training room
Upper level includes an erg and weight room along with beautiful area overlooking the water
Locker room
Access to Chrystie Field House (athletic training room, equipment room)
Access to Campbell Sports Center (team meeting rooms, weight room)