Following the completion of the new residence hall, which is currently under construction on the lower campus, Brandeis is considering plans to demolish East Quad. This plan was first revealed to The Hoot during our exclusive interview with Arthur Levine in early October as something that was a possibility. East Quad has approximately 400 beds, while the new residence hall will have around 650, meaning that the demolition will not reduce the number of beds that are available to students. The new residence hall is expected to be completed in the spring of 2027 and available for students in the Fall 2027 semester.
East Quad was originally built in 1964 for the purpose of housing sophomores and upperclassmen. East consists of two buildings, Hassenfeld and Pomerantz. Dorms in East consist of traditional-style singles and doubles. The average single in East is between 100 and 140 square feet, and the average double is 200 square feet. East is located in the upper campus near the Intercultural Center and Skyline Hall.
Today, many students refer to East as the least desirable living space on campus due to rodent issues and the lack of air conditioning. It has also faced criticism for its narrow hallways, which do not meet modern standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA requires hallways to be at least 36 inches wide. Students have previously compared the hallways in East to “prison corridors.” Because East Quad was built prior to the enactment of the ADA, it is not required to meet modern standards.
According to a university spokesperson, “No decisions have been made by the University regarding the long-term disposition of the East Quad space. 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.”
