Growing uncertainty about East Quad's future raises speculation
The University has repeatedly asserted it has no long-term plans for the space, though the student body has heard otherwise.
Speculation has arisen about the future of East Quadrangle following the 2026-27 school year. East is divided into four halls: Hassenfeld-Krivof, Shapiro House, Pomerantz-Rubenstein and Swig. Over the years, the residential quad has gained a negative reputation among the community, with students reporting unsanitary living conditions and complaints about the facilities. While the University has yet to comment publicly on the space’s future, many students have speculated that the living area will be torn down following the 2026-27 academic year.
“No decisions have been made by the University regarding the long-term disposition of the East Quad space,” a university spokesperson shared in a Feb. 24 email to The Justice. “The new residence hall scheduled to come online next year will have capacity to house significantly more residents than East, which could present the opportunity to reimagine the East space for future residences and dining facility opportunities,” they wrote. The Justice confirmed this statement in email exchanges with the Department of Community Living’s Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Tim Touchette, and the University’s Sr. Campus Space Analyst, Liz Pawlack — neither of whom provided additional comment. As of press time, Brandeis’ Director of Campus Planning, Sarah Holton, has not responded to The Justice’s request for comment.
Students have also raised concerns about the future of the Intercultural Center — which is housed in Swig Hall’s lower level — should East face demolition. In a March 6 statement to The Justice, ICC Director Peter Rojas affirmed that the University has not made any decisions regarding future plans for East, which includes the ICC.
As the University has not released an official statement about these plans, the area holds potential to service students in various ways outside of its current role as a residence quad. As the University continues to build its new residence hall in hopes of attracting prospective students and modernizing the campus, questions about the future of East Quad remain unknown to both current residents and the student body at large.
—Clarification: A source has been removed from the original version of this article.
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