Brooklyn College's East Quad is open again. The college cut the ribbon on the rebuilt lawn at its Flatbush campus on October 22, the same day it closed out its biggest fundraising campaign early and launched the Road to 100, a drive toward the college's centennial in 2030.

What changed on the quad

The East Quad lawn was first built in 1938 with public funds, and the rebuild was publicly funded as well, with State Senator Andrew Gounardes helping to advance the capital money. The college says the redesign keeps the quad's traditional look while making it more accessible, more sustainable and more welcoming, with new pathways, landscaping, seating areas, lighting and green space.

The numbers from the work, as the college reports them: in about ten months, crews removed 11,000 tons of dirt and replaced 1,500 linear feet of pipes and irrigation lines. The new plantings include 18 elm trees, two red maples and other species.

President Michelle J. Anderson led the ribbon cutting, joined by CUNY Vice Chancellor for Facilities Mohamed Attalla, DASNY President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez, Brooklyn College Foundation Board Chair Anthony R. Castellanos and former foundation chair Edwin H. Cohen.

A campaign that finished early

The day's other news was money for students. The Tow Foundation gave a $15 million endowment grant that establishes the Tow Mentorship Center, and that gift pushed Boundless Brooklyn: The Campaign for Student Success past its goal. The campaign raised $131 million against a $125 million target and finished 15 months ahead of schedule. Scholarships and completion grants were among its main priorities.

The Road to 100

With that campaign done, the college has set a new one: the Road to 100 aims to raise another $100 million before the 2030 centennial. Its stated goals are academic programs, more opportunities for students, modernized buildings and closer ties with alumni and the neighborhood. Philip F. Napoli, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, chairs the planning committee.

The centerpiece is what the college calls the Library of the Future: a plan to turn the historic library at the center of campus into a modern hub for learning, research, technology and public programs while keeping its place on the quad. Renovations to Ingersoll Hall and Roosevelt Hall are also on the list.

The October 22 program closed with a performance by conductor Malcolm J. Merriweather, the Tania León Chair of Music, after mentors and students from the Tow Mentoring Initiative spoke.

Visiting the quad

Brooklyn College is at 2900 Bedford Avenue. The 2 and 5 trains stop at Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn College, a block from the Hillel Gate entrance on Hillel Place, and the Q stops at Avenue H. The B6 and B11 buses stop at Bedford Avenue and Campus Road.

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