Brown hits a high note with new Stephen Sondheim Amphitheater, revamped Simmons Quad

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] - Once a traditional campus green defined by stone staircases and open lawns, Brown University's Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle between Thayer Street and Sayles Hall has been transformed into a dynamic new focal point for student life.

The quad is now home to a terraced amphitheater, new seating areas and lush landscaping, providing a comfortable setting for instructors to teach outdoors on nice days and for students and organizations looking for a venue for performances, social activities or simply gathering between classes.

"This amphitheater is spectacular, and it feels like it's been part of the campus forever," Brown University President Christina H. Paxson said at a Thursday, Oct. 23, ceremony celebrating the project's completion. "It's really, really special, and it's exactly the right thing in the right place at the right time."

Led by Brown's Facilities and Campus Operations team in partnership with STOSS Landscape Urbanism and Consigli Construction, the project broke ground just five months ago, but completes a vision for the space more than 120 years in the making: The new design builds on landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's original 1901 plan for the quad, balancing historic preservation with modern infrastructure and evolving student needs.

A legendary and inspiring namesake

The renovation was enabled by a generous gift from Marty and Perry Granoff, honorary degree recipients and parents of a Brown Class of 1993 graduate. Marty Granoff, a trustee emeritus of the Brown Corporation, and his wife, Perry, have long championed the arts at Brown. Among multiple projects and initiatives, their support helped to establish the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, a cornerstone of artistic collaboration on campus.

In recognition of the Granoffs' gift to support the Simmons Quad project, Brown named the amphitheater the Stephen Sondheim Amphitheater - the legendary late composer was a close family friend of the Granoffs, and Sondheim's lifelong passion for music and performance reflects the spirit the Granoffs hope students will experience in the space.

"Stephen was playful, fun to be around and utterly brilliant - no one did it like him," said Marty Granoff, whose friendship with Sondheim spanned more than five decades. "It's our hope that this space will be a source of joy for students, serving as a spot for them to come together, take part in impromptu concerts and rediscover their love of performance."