In September 2026, The City University Construction Fund (CUCF) is projected to have completed the renovation of the Queens Hall library, encompassing the lower level and first floor of the building with modernized technology and new office space.
The project began in October 2025 and comes after the Spring 2025 vacancy of the Queens Hall DMV, which freed up space for the renovation to take place.
On October 6, 2025, the CUNY Board of Trustees authorized CUCF to provide the capital funding for the renovation project. A budget of $13,321,636 was authorized. The renovated library will house new office space for several departments. One such department is the Psychology Department who, alongside the new offices, will also have newly added clinical spaces to enhance research and related activities.
In a statement given to The Knight News, Interim Assistant Vice President for Facilities, Planning and Operations Denese Gordon said:
“The new office layout is expected to result in more effective collaboration and communication among student-facing employees, resulting in improved coordination in student services. Additionally, enhanced lighting and aesthetic upgrades are expected to boost employee comfort and focus and create a more inviting and productive work environment.”
The benefits of the renovation will stretch to faculty and students alike. The addition of staff support areas, and related functions will allow anyone to flourish in the environment.
The day-to-day experience of students on campus should hopefully improve because the resources will be distributed across campus more proportionately.
Furthermore, students who have classes in Queens Hall will no longer need to travel across campus to the main library building to find adequate places to study. The new space will provide immediate access to study spaces, updated technology, and increased academic support which many students may find helpful during their time at Queens College.
The renovation project serves as a testament to QC’s commitment to advancing the college’s technology and enhancing accessibility for all students.
As renovation continues, the current progress and situations around campus such as the construction on Delany Hall and the shutdown of the Student Union highlight an urgency behind the project. When asked about challenges regarding the project and the possibility of delays, Denese Gordon said: “We anticipate completing the project as scheduled. Potential challenges to meeting projected deadlines could result from supply chain issues with sourcing raw materials and shipping delays.”
Until the renovation of the library is completed, its future occupants are currently residing in Kissena Hall.
To minimize delays, the project will follow a phased schedule, ensuring that the lower level will be available for usage ahead of completion, allowing students and staff to occupy the space.
Despite the many benefits of the renovation project, there are some minor concerns that arise in the accessibility of the library and its location on campus.
While this renovation may help revitalize Queens Hall in the eyes of the QC community, some students are not yet convinced that the library will be widely used once it is ready, in part due to the already-existing Rosenthal Library which is much closer to the majority of QC students on campus.
“I don’t think it would change if they added Queens Hall, because Queens Hall is a very far walk, and we have a big library here so the convenience is right there,” said Christian Panomeno, a first-year Exercise Science major.
So while the upcoming Queens Hall library may prove invaluable to students who frequent the area once it is ready, it still remains to be seen whether the renovation will be useful to the campus at large.
