News

The Lehman Grand Opens – Lehman College’s First Dorm

August 5, 2026

For Immediate Release

Contact (Lehman College): Mercedes Diez 
Director, Communications & College Relations 
Mercedes.Diez@lehman.cuny.edu 
917-213-4836 

Contact (MADDD Equities): Shalini Ramaswamy 
Director at HELLER  
shalini@heller.inc  
609-802-5593 

Download Dorm Photos, Credit: Binder Design Group for interior design and Shmily Treger Studios for photography 

Download B-roll and Event Photos, Credit: Lehman College Multimedia Center 

The Lehman Grand Opens – Lehman College’s First Dorm 

The Bronx, NY— (August 5, 2026) Local elected officials joined Lehman College and MADDD Equities today to cut the ribbon at The Lehman Grand, the first student dormitory at Lehman College. Opening ahead of the fall 2026 semester, the new dorm adds much-needed campus housing with apartment-style living for more than 180 students. Developed by MADDD Equities, the dorm is in the newly renovated, landmarked Dollar Savings Bank building on the Grand Concourse at Fordham Road.  

The Lehman Grand offers a modern, fully accessible student-centered living experience, with more than 180 beds for students and sweeping views of the Bronx and Manhattan. Amenities include: ​​ 

• 58 furnished rooms with private bathrooms and free WiFi  

• 2 standalone apartments  

• 24-hour security  

• Shared kitchen  

• Free campus shuttle  

• Study and game rooms  

• On-site laundry (fee applies)  

• Student discounts at Fine Fare (located on the building's ground floor) 

In addition to the shuttle, students can also use Citibike to travel to and from the main campus, which is less than a mile away. There is also public transit access via the B, D and 4 subway lines, and Lehman College offers monthly overnight parking for dorm residents.  

Fernando Delgado, President, Lehman College 

“Our students deserve nothing but the best and The Lehman Grand gives them an affordable, convenient, and beautiful option to help them reach their graduation goals. We would not be here without the amazing support and partnership from the Chancellor’s team at CUNY, our elected officials, and of course, MADDD Equities which created an interior that matches the historic Art Deco exterior of this building.” 

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, The City University of New York 

“The opening of Lehman College’s first residence hall is a milestone for the Bronx and the University. As our seventh residential campus, this modern housing facility reflects CUNY’s commitment to adapting to the evolving needs of today’s New York City students. By offering safe, vibrant living spaces near campus, we are breaking down barriers to higher education, fostering a deeper sense of community, and ensuring our students have every resource they need to thrive both academically and personally. We are deeply grateful to MADDD Equities for their exceptional work restoring this space and for their continued dedication to investing in the future of CUNY and our city.” 

Jorge Madruga, Principal, MADDD Equities 

"We are proud to have restored and revitalized the Art Deco Dollar Savings Bank as The Lehman Grand. This landmarked space will now serve Lehman College students, offering them the unique experience of living in a historic building with top-tier amenities. With furnished apartments, game and study rooms, on-site laundry and the Fine Fare Supermarket on the ground floor, this project creates much needed campus housing while enhancing student life. We thank Lehman College and CUNY for partnering with us to transform this space into a home for their students."     

The Lehman Grand is located in the historic Dollar Savings Bank, an Art Deco Bronx landmark constructed in 1932–1933 and expanded in the early 1950s with the addition  

of a 10-story office block and its signature 50-foot clock tower. Designed by architect Adolf L. Muller of Halsey, McCormack and Helmer, the building was designated a New  

York City landmark in 1994 for its visual presence on the Grand Concourse and its character-defining features, including four clock faces, pink granite, red brick, terra cotta detailing and the iconic Liberty Head medallions. As part of The Lehman Grand project, MADDD Equities undertook a careful restoration to preserve the building’s architectural significance. These efforts ensured that the building’s most recognizable features were protected while adapting the tower to serve as Lehman College’s first student residence.  

MADDD Equities is leading two notable landmark rehabilitation projects elsewhere in the borough – the Kingsbridge Armory and the Bronx General Post Office. In a joint venture with Joy Construction (8th Regiment Partners), MADDD Equities is redeveloping the long-vacant Armory into a mixed-use hub with an entertainment venue, recreational space, cultural and commercial space, light industrial manufacturing and over 25,000 square feet of dedicated community space. The project will also include approximately 500 permanently affordable rental apartments adjacent to the site. MADDD Equities is also transforming the Bronx General Post Office into a health and science education center for Hostos Community College. The landmarked building will be renovated to house programs for nursing, radiology, and engineering students.