Buffalo State College’s $350-million capital improvement plan has long been underway. This Friday, Sept. 25, the school will embark on its most recent portion of the construction plan, a state-of-the-art science and mathematics complex.
The $110-million complex development will consist of two phases: Phase one, which is already ongoing and phase two, which will begin construction in 2011.
The first phase of construction is a four-story building which will encompass a multi-story glass atrium, an advanced imaging suite, research laboratories and teaching facilities for the biology, chemistry, earth science and math and science education departments, as well as the Great Lakes Center for Environmental Research and Education, said Buffalo State chemistry professor, Kimberly Bagley.
The first phase will also include a forensic chemistry lab to aid the new Masters of Forensic Science program, she said.
“Buffalo State has one of the only forensic chemistry programs in the state and a brand new Masters of Forensic Science program,” Bagley said. “So having a forensic laboratory will be very good for those programs and those students.”
At the same time, the college, along with architects at Cannon Design Inc.—a Grand Island, N.Y. based company –will be in the process of designing phase two, she said.
Phase two will be a complete renovation of the north wing of the existing Science Building, while the south wing will be demolished. The project will include additional laboratories for the physics and mathematics departments.
“Phase two will have the laboratories for the physics department and math department—which is currently in Bishop Hall—and we’re really excited about that because it will allow us to integrate math and science in one complex,” Bagley said.
At the very end of the Phase two project, the current lecture halls will be replaced with smart rooms. In addition, renovation of the north wing will accommodate the Whiteworth Ferguson Planetarium, which will be located on the ground level and visible from the exterior through its transparent framework, she said.
The construction of the complex will cost $56.4 million and $54 million respectively. Each will adequately constitute as a major improvement to both the science and mathematics departments, Bagley said.
"It will change everything,” said Buffalo State Assistant Vice President of finance and management, Lisa Krieger. “The new facility will help change the culture of the whole math and science departments as a whole.”
Furthermore, with the vast development, increased enrollment is expected, Bagley said.
“Traditionally, across the nation, departments have found new buildings have increased enrollment,” she said. “I’ve heard numbers based on other programs that saw perhaps an increase of even 20 percent. It’s pretty well known that new buildings tend to increase enrollment.”
In addition to enhanced education, Bagley said the complex will be a hospitable area for students to relax and hang out.
“We’re expecting this building to be very welcoming to students,” she said. “We’re hoping students will feel comfortable here and see science and math happening and decide they want to be involved in it.”
The current science buildings were built in 1964 and 1967. Both faculty and students agree that this project is long overdue, Bagley said.
"These departments have been waiting over 15 years for a new facility,” Krieger said. “It is extremely hard for them to be successful with outdated labs and equipment.”
With completion for phase one of the development set for Fall 2013, current freshman enrolled in the program are expected to spend their senior year in the new building.
Students have already noticed the beginning of the college’s capital improvement plan, as Rockwell Road was reconstructed this summer and the Student Union Quad Rehabilitation project that has been underway since May and is expected to last through the entire school year.
The college also welcomed the completion of the Burchfield Penny Art Center, which marked the commencement of the plan.
Inevitably, with construction on campus, there are concerns that noise and congestion will be a problem. The science department already has plans in place to move classes out of the current science buildings, to accommodate for the noise, Bagley said.
“I think the campus as a whole is pretty excited about all the new construction,” she said. “We realize, just like moving house, it’s painful while you’re doing it but there is a lot of benefits to be reaped by getting it done. I think most of the faculty and students here feel like it’s sort of overdue and we’re happy that the college has signed on to this state-of-the-art project.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. Friday next to the science building. Interim President Dennis Ponton has invited all students to the event.