Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

Every summer, St. John’s University in Queens, NY, undergoes significant capital improvements while students are away for jobs, internships, and vacations. This year, the main focus is on Gate 1 on Utopia Parkway. The area is currently a construction zone with orange cones and temporary barriers as part of the Gate 1 Beautification Project.

“We are installing a new improved drainage system at Gate 1, with new sidewalks, walkways, and pavers from the main gate to the recently installed Public Safety booth at the traffic circle,” said Brian Baumer, Associate Vice President of Campus Facilities and Services.

Baumer and his team manage various projects across campus during the summer months. “New York City is the city that never sleeps—and that also applies to St. John’s,” he noted on a particularly hot day when contractors worked at Gate 1.

On the opposite side of campus at Gate 4, an aging water line is being replaced and reconnected to the public water main. Additionally, a century-old network of steam pipes and storm drains is being updated due to their susceptibility to bursts during extreme weather.

Other less visible projects include roof replacements on St. Augustine Hall (the library) and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. The library's roof was stripped down for fresh insulation and waterproofing membranes after years of patchwork repairs.

Additional ongoing or completed projects involve HVAC repairs in Montgoris Dining Hall and the School of Law; facade repairs to St. John Hall; carpet replacement in DaSilva and Hollis residence halls; routine upgrades to exterior lighting; parking garage improvements; elevator upgrades in O’Connor Hall; and restoration of Alumni Stairs connecting Residence Village to Great Lawn.

By late August, these efforts will result in smoother sidewalks, better elevators, and more comfortable buildings for returning students. Most changes may go unnoticed by students but represent a season of quiet triumph for those involved in these improvements.