Opened in late 2009, the D’Angelo Center at St. John’s University serves as a hub for academics and student life on the Queens, NY campus. Known as “DAC,” this 127,000-square-foot facility is named after Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Peter P. D’Angelo ’78MBA, ’06HON and his wife, Trustee Margaret La Rosa D’Angelo ’70Ed, ’22HON.
Mr. D’Angelo is the President of Caxton Alternative Management, LP, a private investment company. He earned his MBA from St. John’s University while Mrs. D’Angelo graduated from The School of Education at St. John’s. Both have received honorary degrees from the university.
“For me and Peg, this is a great day,” Mr. D’Angelo said in 2009. “We’re honored and privileged to have our names on this building and be forever associated with St. John’s University.”
The DAC’s 144-foot bell tower is the tallest structure on campus and features a gold leaf-layered torch inspired by the Statue of Liberty’s torch in New York Harbor.
Many design elements of the $77 million building draw inspiration from Ellis Island’s Great Halls—a nod to the university’s mission to educate immigrant children. “The central seating area features a double-height space with round-arch windows, which architecturally links back to images of Ellis Island, implying permanence and aspirational welcoming—a gateway,” explained Mark Thaler, FAIA, Principal of Gensler Architects.
The central seating area has been dubbed “the living room” and includes a stone fireplace and grand piano with views of New York City to the west.
As an essential part of campus life, DAC houses various student-focused offices such as Campus Activities; First-Year Mentoring; Fraternity and Sorority Life; New Student Orientation; Office of Multicultural Affairs; and Student Government Inc.
DAC includes 14 classrooms, six seminar rooms, recreation space for students, a cafeteria with full services, student organization offices, and Sodano Coffee House. The fourth floor boasts nearly 4,000 square feet for events like university conferences or weddings.
