Cornell has selected architect Thom Mayne and his firm, Morphosis, to design the first academic building of the NYC Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City. In a press release, University Architect Gilbert Delgado stated: "Our goal is to design an iconic, landmark building that will resonate with the mission and spirit of the new campus. And we are excited that Thom Mayne and Morphosis will be leading our effort."

Mayne is the winner of the 2005 Pritzker Prize and the founder of Morphosis. "The goal here is to develop a one-of-a-kind institution," Mayne told the New York Times. "It's got to start from rethinking—innovating—an environment." Morphosis is expected to deliver design drafts in November 2012 and a schematic design in March 2013.