New dorm opening celebration

Buffalo State College officially opened the new student apartment complex building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. The building cost was completed for under $48 million and was developed by the Buffalo State College Foundation Housing Corporation.

The college's need for housing has grown consistently ever since the first dorm opened in 1948.

Hal Payne, vice president for student affairs, referenced the famous quote from the movie "The Field of Dreams."

"If we build it, they will come," he said.

The ribbon cutting was hosted by speakers introducing the new apartment complex, followed by a tour of the facility, and then a small reception after. Mayor Byron Brown, a Buffalo State alumnus, was in attendance at the ceremony and was a part of the ribbon cutting.

President Aaron Podolefsky praised the project for being environmentally sound, and was happy to see it officially open.

"I'm grateful, I'm delighted, and I'm excited and I cannot wait to cut this ribbon," he said.

The student apartment complex is a 125-apartment building with a 500-bed capacity. It is designed for upper-division, graduate and transfer students. The apartment complex has a fully furnished living room, kitchen, two bathrooms and four single bedrooms per suite.            

The cost for the living in the complex is $4,400 per semester, which is the same cost as a single room in Moore Complex but more than a standard double room, which is $3,169 per semester.

The building has eliminated the need for overflow housing on campus. In previous years students had to live in the Adams Mark Hotel downtown.

United Students Government President Sarah Garfinkle, who is also a resident of this new apartment complex, gave a few examples of the impact the complex has on students.

"I do not know if Buffalo State realizes the impact the apartments have on the residents that occupy it," Garfinkle said. "Through the independent living of the apartments it is giving students another way of the real world and what is in front of them when they leave these doors.  It teaches college students to be responsible, reliable, and to care about our campus around us."

After the event, students had an opportunity of their own to experience the new apartment building by attending STAC Bash 2011. This event was hosted by the office of Residence Life as a collaboration with Campus Life.

Shari Ingles can be reached by e-mail at ingles.record@live.com