Buffalo State Celebrates Student Union Reopening
Buffalo State will celebrate the reopening of the newly renovated Campbell Student Union with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Thursday, January 31, at 11:30 a.m., in the building’s main lobby. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students, faculty, staff, and guests will be treated to tours of the new facilities, live music, giveaways, and more.
The Student Union’s $6.3-million-rehabilitation, designed by BHNT Architects, marks another milestone in Buffalo State’s construction boom. The college is currently engaged in a roster of capital projects that will transform campus and result in nearly $350 million in new construction and improvements by 2016.
“Located at the center of where the academic and social dimensions of college life meet at Buffalo State, the newly renovated Campbell Student Union will add to the student-centered campus environment we’ve worked hard to create at our institution,” said Buffalo State President Aaron Podolefsky. “This major refurbishment project has brought new life to a facility that’s at the heart of the campus experience at Buffalo State.”
The Student Union’s most expansive renovations, which started in spring 2012, took place on the third floor and provide expanded study and community spaces, a sleekly-updated Fireside Lounge, an enlarged and divisible Assembly Hall, and a fully-equipped Social Hall with new audio and lighting control systems and an expanded stage.
The main lobby also received a facelift, including a new, modern glass staircase and a 16-foot-wide mezzanine furnished with chairs and tables. Overhead, a 72-foot-diameter steel ring, replete with LED lights, provides a place to display fliers and posters and creates a modern look.
“We consulted with students through surveys and charrettes during the design phase,” said Hal Payne, vice president for student affairs. “Students told us that, above all else, they wanted a more comfortable space to meet with friends between classes. Well, we listened and the renovated building will feature five lounge areas, three of which are new. These lounges will incorporate 127 chairs designed specifically for relaxing or studying. In the Social Hall, students will find a state-of-the art programming space that rivals many professional venues. The Fireside Lounge features a working gas fireplace. The Assembly Hall can expand to twice its previous capacity. I am confident that students will be proud to call this their new Campbell Student Union.”
In addition to the third floor and lobby renovations, the Student Union’s retail and resident dining areas received updates in 2008 and 2010, respectively.