Frequently Asked Questions
When will the student commons open?
The student commons building is scheduled to open fall 2014.
How will the student commons affect the usage of existing buildings on campus?
All of the buildings currently on campus will remain in tact as they are. Some offices and programs that are currently housed in Thomas Hall, Smith Auditorium and Miguel Hall will move over to the student commons, which will provide some much-needed space for enhanced student life programming and student collaboration.
Why is the building being named after Ray Kelly ’63?
Ray Kelly ’63 is the current commissioner of the New York City Police Department, having held the position from 1992 to 1994 and 2002 to the present. Kelly has spent 31 years in the NYPD, serving in 25 different commands. In fact, he is the only person to date to hold every rank in the NYPD.
Through his leadership and personal integrity — exemplified by a long and distinguished record of public service — Kelly embodies all of the core values of a Lasallian education. He stands as an inspiration to past, present and future Manhattan College students.
How will construction affect parking spaces in the Waldo Parking Lot?
As of December 13, 2012 the Waldo Lot will no longer be open for anyone to park. Students who hold parking permits and normally park in this lot can park anywhere on levels 2 or 3 of the Broadway Parking Facility, or in the 240th Street lot.
What facilities in the student commons will be open to local residents?
When the building opens, the Starbucks and bookstore located on the first floor of the student commons will be open to local residents. Additionally, some of the lectures and programs hosted in the building will be open to the public. Announcements about public programs will be listed on calendar.manhattan.edu and possibly in the local Riverdale newspapers.
When will the construction take place? Weekday hours? Weekends, too?
Under normal circumstances, the construction project will follow the standard work hours permitted within New York City: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. There may be times when work needs to be conducted outside of these hours or on weekends. These are uncommon situations that will occur when conducting certain processes, like large concrete pours, which may require a continuous operation or compensation for weather delays. We anticipate that any work done outside of normal hours will be limited.
Will there be any road closures?
We do not anticipate any major road closings, other than brief closures to accommodate vehicle movement. Material deliveries will be from the south side of the site to avoid disruptions on Waldo Avenue, which is more residential. There may be traffic and/or parking disruption when the exterior panels are being installed on the Waldo side of the building, but we would hope to be able to keep the street open by taking parking on Waldo for a short period of time.
Will construction affect local resident parking on Waldo Avenue?
During the course of the construction process, it may be necessary to periodically utilize parking spaces along the eastern side of Waldo Avenue, directly adjacent to the construction site. Whenever that becomes necessary, Manhattan College will make an equivalent number of parking spaces available in the College’s Broadway parking facility.
To utilize these spaces, affected residents should enter the College’s parking garage at the Manhattan College Parkway entrance and inform the public safety officer at the entry booth that one or more of these Waldo Avenue spaces are disrupted by construction. You may need to provide proof of residency in one of the properties along Waldo in the immediate vicinity of the construction. If spaces allocated for construction are still available in the parking facility, you will be provided with a parking pass for the day.