Resident Spotlight: Peter Ostergard
Peter Ostergard came to I-House knowing he was not the first in his family to live here. His mother had lived in the House, and so had his uncle. But once Ostergard became a resident himself, curiosity led him to the resident directories on the I-House website, where he discovered that his family’s legacy went back much further than he realized.
His mother, Johanne Christiane Frazer Riegels ’97, spent a summer at I-House in 1997 while studying architecture at Columbia University. A few years earlier, Ostergard’s uncle, Carl O. Haxthausen ’96, lived at I-House from 1994 to 1996 while pursuing an MBA at Columbia.
Ostergard had long known of his great-aunt, Christiane Elisabeth Reimann ’25, but he had not previously known that she was among the earliest residents of I-House and lived here during the inaugural year from 1924 to 1925, before going on to make history as a pioneering Danish nurse. She became the first Danish nurse to earn a graduate degree in nursing and later served as the first paid secretary of the International Council of Nurses. Today, the organization’s most prestigious honor, the Christiane Reimann Prize, is named in her honor.
Now, Ostergard reflects on what this family history means to him and how his own experience fits into the story.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to become a resident at I-House?
A: Hello, my name is Peter Ostergard, and I’m from Denmark. I grew up just north of Copenhagen and have spent much of my life in international environments. I attended a boarding school in Germany from age 13, living with students from many different countries, and later experienced other co-living school settings.
When I discovered I-House, it felt like the right fit from the start. Given my past experiences, I knew this was a place where I would feel at home.
Q: You have a remarkable family history connected to I-House dating back to 1925. When did you first learn about this, and what was your reaction?
A: I first learned about it through my mother, who lived here briefly in the 1990s. Later, I found out my uncle had also lived here while studying at Columbia. Around the time I was admitted to Columbia and looking for housing, my mom mentioned that my great-aunt had lived here as well.
At that point, it felt like a no-brainer. I had to apply. With those connections, it just made sense to give it a shot.
Q: What does it mean to you to now be part of that legacy, living in the same community a century later?
A: It’s an impressive story, of course, but to me it’s especially meaningful to see how, over nearly 100 years, members of my family have traveled abroad to study and grow. There’s something reassuring about following a path that others in my family have taken before.
I had heard about my great-aunt growing up, but realizing she lived here 100 years ago makes being here even more special.
Q: What are you currently studying at Columbia, and what drew you to that field?
A: I’m studying Management Science and Engineering. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but it combines business and engineering. Previously, I studied Computer Science and Economics, and I have always been interested in understanding both how technology works and how money and systems shape society.
I realized I did not necessarily want to focus deeply on coding, so this program is a great balance. It blends quantitative skills with more intuitive, case-based learning from the business side.
Q: How do you see your time at I-House shaping your future goals?
A: Being surrounded by so many driven and inspiring people has had a big impact. At first, it can feel a bit intimidating. Everyone seems accomplished and full of ambition. Once you move past that, it becomes motivating.
For example, through conversations here, I have developed an interest in renewable energy, something I had not seriously considered before. That is the kind of influence I-House has. You meet someone in the Dining Hall, they introduce you to others, and suddenly your perspective expands in ways you did not expect.
Q: Is there a specific I-House event or tradition that has been particularly meaningful to you?
A: The Night of Nations stands out. It was incredible to see each country represented and how much effort people put into sharing their culture.
I did not expect to get so involved myself, but by the end, I found myself reaching out to companies and really trying to make our Danish table as good as possible. We served traditional rye bread with toppings like herring and potatoes, along with Danish pastries.
It was a great experience, both in representing my culture and seeing how much everyone cared about sharing theirs.
Q: If you could describe your I-House experience in three words, what would they be?
A: Overwhelming, exciting, and amazing. When you arrive and suddenly find yourself among 700 people you do not know, it can feel like a lot at first. There is definitely a “startup phase” where you find your people, but that is part of what makes it so rewarding.
Q: Do you have a favorite spot at I-House?
A: I would say the Map Lounge. It is a great place to study, relax, or just sit and talk with people. It naturally brings people together.
Q: Why do you think communities like I-House are important today?
A: I-House is a great example of how people from very different backgrounds can live together and connect. Because you see each other every day, you build a level of familiarity that makes open conversation easier, even about more serious topics.
You might have very different worldviews, but there is a shared sense of respect that comes from living in the same community. It creates space for real dialogue, which feels especially important right now.