By Victoria Keraj
The Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration of Brooklyn College, Alan Gilbert, sent a school-wide email regarding the administration’s initiatives toward general improvements to campus grounds.
Ongoing upgrades to the BC’s East Quad, Ingersoll Hall, and Roosevelt Hall were discussed in the email. Plans to replace old infrastructure have been ongoing according to a BC 5-year Capital plan summary. The five-year plan began in 2021, and its expected completion year is 2026.
Included in the summary is the plan to modernize Ingersoll lecture halls 1310 and 2310 with, “[…] a new HVAC system linked to the recently-installed chilled water loop; new systems for lighting, audio-visual, and instructional technology; new finishes throughout; and fixed seating.”
Ingersoll/Roosevelt Phase 1, as mentioned in the email, will install HVAC and include “improvements [that] will modernize classrooms, labs, and provide technology advancements that will aid learning,” to the two buildings, Gilbert stated.
The school also planned to rehabilitate the East Quad by upgrading “subsurface infrastructure (drainage, domestic water, electric, and fire safety).” Plans to landscape and the “incorporation of drought-resistant plantings” for the East Quad revolve around flooding and irrigation needs.
According to Gilbert, design specifications for the East Quad Renovation are currently being finalized. “The project will be going out to bid for construction during Spring 2025. If all goes well, construction will start in 2026.”
The need for infrastructure updates is outlined in the plan summary by BC President Michelle J. Anderson.
“Much of the infrastructure (e.g., central boilers, chillers, oil tank farms) is passed or is narrowly approaching the end of its useful life cycle,” Anderson stated.
These infrastructure goals also address the school’s energy system and irrigation needs.
“Present systems are obsolete, energy inefficient, or at risk of failure. Upgrades to the electrical system (including exterior and general interior lighting), restrooms, roofs, and windows will help the College meet its sustainability goals. Groundwater flooding must be addressed, and hazardous materials require abatement in floors and insulation.”
The removal of the library scaffolding and upcoming repairs to the ceiling in the Claire Tow theater were brought up in the recent email. The ceiling had amassed damage from steam condensate and past roof leaks which caused plaster to fall during the summer.
Marcus Richardson, director for the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts, said that when the damages were noticed, “[…] the theater was immediately closed, with events relocated or canceled. In [Oct.], a safety netting was installed and allowed the space to reopen.”
As mentioned in the email, the administration completed an assessment of the damages in Jan. and repairs are expected to begin this summer. Richardson stated that since a two month closure of the theater, “[…] there have been no further disruptions, and no student performances or events from the School of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts [have been] impacted.”
On Feb. 25, a pipe burst in Boylan Hall. This led to the immediate temporary shutdown of the humanities-based hall, leaving classes to meet online. An email sent by the Office of Facilities stated that water was restored to the building Feb. 28, but that bathroom 3107 and 1 stall in 4107 will be closed.
Enrollment loss and its effect on the school’s budget were previously covered by The Vanguard. The reduced budget was a topic in a 2022-2023 faculty Council meeting. A correspondence of the meeting states that Anderson discussed “CUNY’s overall deficit; the New York State budget context (including the possibility of future deficits).”
In the meeting, Gilbert also discussed “the overall structural deficit, and challenges to making further budget cuts,” which aligns with the recent email’s reference to attempts to align improvements to BC with the budget.
A decreased budget has also affected planning decisions concerning BC’s cafeteria. According to the email, “The [Auxiliary Enterprises Corporation (AEC)] ultimately decided against the only viable vendor from the original Request for Proposals (RFP) due to financial concerns that would have impacted other critical initiatives, including commencement.” While the search for another vendor continues, the AEC plans to “secure a short-term grab-and-go vendor” to be implemented this semester alongside the current arrangement of food trucks.
According to the email, two million dollars have been allocated to improve and create new community spaces in BC. A working research group led by Shemeka Brathwaite, program manager for NYC Men Teach, “[…] will survey existing spaces, gather feedback, and make recommendations on how best to utilize the funding.”
BC’s new art gallery, which unveiled its new mural, will soon feature new pieces curated by BC’s art department. “Those who contributed feel a special sense of legacy, but also future students, will feel their own subtle sense of connection and encouragement while in the space,” Professor Julia Cocuzza previously told The Vanguard.
Gilbert’s email makes a point to highlight upcoming monthly updates and a semesterly campus forum as “part of […] efforts to improve transparency and access to key information.”
This regard for open communication with students and CUNY’s initiatives from their Strategic Roadmap focusing on quality of life improvements for students, such as CUNY accommodate and the Transfer Initiative, give hope that the needs of Brooklyn college students are being considered and will be met.
“Brooklyn College is at an exciting moment of progress,” Gilbert stated in the email, “but there is still much to do to ensure that our strategic priorities align with the needs of our campus community.”