Slew of construction projects continue

Buffalo State's $350 million face-lift continues this year with a host of construction projects, both big and small.

The college kicked off construction on its $38 million technology building with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 10. Speakers included college President Aaron Podolefsky and New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt.

"I think everybody was in a very positive and upbeat mood," said Stanley Kardonsky, vice president of Finance and Management.

The project faced some initial setbacks due to funding problems and legal complications, but it is now expected to be completed by summer 2013.

The technology department is currently working out of Upton Hall, which was built in the 1960s.

The outdated building gave students a poor impression of the program, said Richard Butz, chair of the technology department.

"The new building will be a place that will enable us to show people what we can do," he said.

Various departments were scattered across the original building, making collaboration difficult, Butz said.

"It separated the disciplines so that there wasn't very much communication within the disciplines," he said.

The new building will group these departments together.

"It's a jolt out of the old and into the new," he said.

The 50-year-old science building is also being replaced. The first phase of the new Science and Mathematics Complex is expected to be completed next summer, with two additional phases being completed in 2014 and 2015.

"It should really shake up our programs and help us attract better students and serve the students we have now better," said chemistry professor Kimberly Bagely, who has been involved in the construction of the new building since its early planning phases.

The first phase will include both instructional labs and research labs for the chemistry, earth science and biology departments.

The third floor of the Campbell Student Union will be renovated next semester, causing a temporary shutdown of some of the union's lounge and activity space until the project is completed in Spring 2013. United Students Government representatives said they are already looking for places to hold events as a result of the closings.

The third floor of Rockwell Hall will also get extensive renovations, with the space formerly occupied by the Burchfield-Penney Art Center being renovated into classrooms and a new recital hall. These renovations will cost $5.3 million.

Additional upgrades include the repaving of Rees Street, the replacement of windows in seven buildings, masonry repairs, roof replacements and upgrades to underground utilities, some of which have not been replaced since they were built in the early 1900s. Some of these projects will lead to temporary detours or the loss of parking spaces.

There is no end to construction in sight, with projects planned through 2015 and even more on the way.

Jacob Tierney can be reached by email at tierney.record@live.com.