By: Kaniz Samiha
On Oct. 22, Brooklyn College (BC) celebrated a significant milestone with the reopening of the East Quad, marking a new chapter in BC’s history. Students, faculty, alumni, and staff gathered to commemorate this special achievement as BC continues its journey toward its 100-year anniversary.
The reopening was more than a restoration of the lawn; it also highlighted the role of public investment in BC’s history.
“Public investment built this lawn in 1938, and public investment has now rebuilt it [in] 2026,” BC President Michelle J. Anderson declared during the ribbon-cutting ceremony which took place at 11 a.m.
When BC opened in 1937, it had no landscaping. A year later, in Sept. 1938, the New York Times (NYT) took notice of the project to create a quad and printed a number of stories. Anderson referenced a 1939 article from NYT titled “WPA Transforms Brooklyn College Campus,” which stated, “Last week, the beautifully tended lawn covering the quadrangle adjacent to Bedford Avenue was carefully cut to permit the laying of what WPA officials say is the only underground sprinkler system in a college campus in the country.”
The admiration of the quad continued beyond a single article. The New York Times again continued to focus on the landscaping in an article, “Brooklyn College Campus Emerging as a Beauty Spot.”
On Christmas Eve of 2025, the East Quad closed for renovations.
As President Michelle J. Anderson recalls, “Fences went up, walkways were blocked off, and excavators arrived. The center of campus became a construction site. Starting [in] the spring of 2026, students had to take sometimes awkward detours around the campus to get to class.”
Grumblings were heard from many, who worried that the project would take three years or more and would be ongoing until after they graduated, as reported by The Vanguard.
As weeks turned into months, the BC community witnessed the rapid progress, which was completed in just 10 months.
“Today, we can begin to see those sites again,” said Anderson. “As members of the BC community, we now get to witness the newly planted trees become lush and watch the campus change as the seasons pass.”
“The trees we planted this year will take decades to reach their maximum height, and the students who will relax under the fullest shade have not yet been born. That’s the promise of a public college,” Anderson stated.
“The East Quad is now yours to care and protect,” Anderson said as she concluded her speech.
With the sun shining on the green grass, the BC community was reunited again on the East Quad after 10 months of construction. As the ribbon was cut, students ran toward the grass. Frisbees were thrown across the lawn as students played different games like Jenga and Tidalball, relaxed on the grass, and free ice cream was given out.
Among those celebrating were recent graduates who were unable to take their graduation photos on the lawn due to construction. With the East Quad finally reopened, they returned to campus dressed in their caps and gowns to capture a graduation memory they had missed.
For Madina Amber, a student at Baruch College, the East Quad holds special memories of the time she spent with her best friend, a BC student.
Although Madina is not a BC student herself, the quad remains a meaningful place where the two share many memories.
“We spent so many memories like being in the lawn, chilling, walking between her classes, and the fact of being closed for so long,” said Amber. “I miss those times, those good times.”
Llea Benes Smith, a staff member in the Environmental Health and Safety department who was participating in games with other staff members during the celebration, also shared her excitement about the reopening.
“It was really nice to see it open again and see the students on campus again. It sure does feel lively,” Smith said.
With the East Quad finally reopened, Student Government President Robert Echevarria expressed his excitement about bringing USG events and activities back to the lawn, allowing students to once again gather and enjoy the heart of the campus.
“Students can come back to being able to play volleyball here on the quad, and putting out blankets and enjoying the weather while it’s still warm most days. And of course, we have movie nights back outside again,” Echevarria shared.
The reopening of the East Quad is just one of the many improvements Brooklyn College has planned as it approaches its 100th anniversary.
“As part of the Road To 100 initiative, BC is looking toward the future, with plans to renovate its library and make further improvements across campus,” according to Echevarria.
“BC has received $600 million in grants to actually renovate the campus, improve the campus. Some of this can go from infrastructure, renovations, to even new construction,” said Echevarria.
The opening of the East Quad is just the beginning for the BC community, the Road To 100 marks a celebration of achievement, renewal, and vision.
For more information on The Road To 100, visit The Road to 100 | Brooklyn College