New Stairway
In Queens, a new staircase now links the Great Lawn with the lower
quad, offering direct and easy access between the upper and lower
campuses. Informally known as the Grand Stair, it contains 27
sweeping steps separated by two landings, and is constructed of
reinforced concrete augmented with decorative granite stone facing.
The granite facing complements the appearance of the adjacent
outdoor fountain located at the lower end of the staircase.
The location of the staircase, between Marillac Hall and St.
Augustine Hall, was selected to enhance the flow of students
traveling between the upper campus and the corridor leading to the
D’Angelo Center. The project was begun on July 1, 2010 as part of
the University’s Master Plan for the beautification of the Queens
campus.