Governor Cuomo Announces Completion of $27.6 Million Caudell Hall Renovations at SUNY Buffalo State
Since 2011, New York State Has Invested More Than $325 Million in New Capital Projects And Renovations At SUNY Buffalo
StateView Photos of the Newly Renovated Caudell Hall here
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced the completion of $27.6 million
in renovations to Caudell Hall at SUNY Buffalo State. The hall houses
multiple departments at Buffalo State, including Hospitality and Tourism,
Social Work and Speech Language Pathology, and Health, Nutrition and Dietetics.
As a part of the project, the entire interior of the three-story, 21,000-square-foot
building was gutted and renovated.
"When New York’s students succeed, we all succeed because an
educated workforce is a dynamic workforce. The renovated Caudell Hall
provides a state-of-the-art facility for students at Buffalo State to
get hands-on experience in their chosen field,"
said Governor Cuomo. "SUNY institutions provide unparalleled educational and professional
opportunities to our students and in order to maintain their success,
it is critical that we continue to make robust investments in their campuses."
The first floor features an expanded lobby, updated classrooms, a conference
room and state-of-the-art laboratories. The Health, Nutrition and Dietetics
Department on the second floor includes an new meal management lab, computer
labs, classrooms and designated space for the Nutrition Education Counseling
Center. Additionally, new faculty offices were added on the third floor.
"This is not just an investment in our colleges, it is an investment
in our workforce of tomorrow,"
said Lieutenant Governor Hochul during the announcement at Buffalo State. "These renovations will add the space needed to accommodate a growing
population, better technology and more advanced learning, positioning
Buffalo State as a competitive option for students seeking a higher education
in New York State. This is further evidence that Governor Cuomo is committed
to the meeting the needs of Upstate New York and providing a top-notch
higher education for our younger generation."
"We are enormously excited about what the renovated Caudell Hall
can offer our students,"
said Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner. "From state-of-the-art food labs to smart classrooms, the new space
will better prepare current and future students for the high-demand careers
within their professional disciplines."
Caudell Hall is expected to become LEED Silver certified as a result of
various environmentally friendly updates to the building. The project
incorporated the use of aluminum glass and terra cotta panels on the exterior
of the building, 30 percent less water usage, 20 percent less energy use,
and composting of kitchen food waste to fertilize campus plantings. The
renovation also included the use of recycled materials in building products.
Caudell Hall originally opened on the Buffalo State campus in 1962 as
the Home Economics Building. Since then, the departments of Fashion and
Textile Technology, Hospitality and Tourism, Dietetics and Nutrition all
have resided in Caudell. The Speech-Language Pathology Department joined
the School of the Professions and its clinic moved to Caudell. As departments
grew and moved into the hall, space grew tighter, the facilities and equipment
became outdated, and the building’s layout didn’t lend itself
to collaboration between departments. The two-year renovation of the 55-year
old building incorporated project design from BHNT Architects, and construction
was done by Northland Associates Inc. and was overseen by LiRo Group.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "Throughout Upstate New York, the state’s colleges and universities
have proven to be major assets to their communities and regional economies.
Project by project, the significant investments in Buffalo State College
have created a campus that meets the high expectations of students coming
to Buffalo for a first-class education and to be part of the ongoing transformation
of Western New York.”
Congressman Brian Higgins said, "As a proud Buffalo State alum it is great to see the College's
forward-thinking approach to providing the next generation of students
an educational setting that embraces the latest technology and expands
hands-on learning opportunities. The renovated Caudell Hall, with its
green design features, continues to advance Buff State's role in preparing
students for the workforce and represents the latest symbol of Bengal
Pride."
State Senator Chris Jacobs said, "Buffalo State College is a regional asset and respected institution
of higher education that the State of New York believes in and will continue
to invest in its future. Today’s opening of Caudell Hall, a $27.6
million dollar state of the art facility, is a testament to that commitment
and I am confident this investment will have a tremendous impact to the
school, the student body, and Western New York."
Assemblyman Sean Ryan said, "Buffalo State continues to be a major anchor of growth on Buffalo's
West Side. The new Caudell Hall will help to improve the educational experience
for Buffalo State students with modern classrooms, expanded laboratories,
and the latest technology. I am especially pleased to see the environmental
upgrades which have given the building a LEED silver certification. Modern,
environmentally-friendly buildings like the new Caudell Hall will help
to cut carbon emissions and strengthen our commitment to green infrastructure."
County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, "Caudell Hall's renovation brings a tired old building back to
new, vibrant life and underscores the importance of providing a cutting-edge
education to students hoping for careers in human services. This space
has completely new laboratories and classrooms and will house numerous
departments in a state-of -the-art, environmentally-friendly building.
Thanks to Governor Cuomo, this investment in education will produce employees
for growing industries here in Erie County."
Mayor Byron W. Brown said, “As a Buffalo State alumnus, I remember very well what Caudell Hall
looked like before this tremendous remodel. It’s great that the
building could be transformed to serve Buffalo State for the 21st Century
and that it did not need to be demolished. Thank you to Governor Cuomo
and state lawmakers who have a strong track record of funding projects
at Buffalo State, which is a pillar in the higher education framework
in the City of Buffalo. This is a win-win for the College and its students,
and the City of Buffalo.”
Jim Mayrose, Dean of the School of Professions said, “All of these programs have a human service focus — from preparing
meals for specialized populations to helping clients who have speech and
language disorders. The updated building will be more conducive to collaboration
among students and faculty, which not only will enhance the educational
experience, but also will bolster students’ resumes due to the hands-on
experience they will obtain.”
Steve Shaffer, Buffalo State’s facilities planning manager said, “Like most recent projects that we’ve undertaken on campus,
there were many justifications. The mechanical and electrical systems
needed updating, the exterior wall systems were thermally inefficient,
and the spaces no longer met the needs of the academic programs.”