As the first step in the design of a new outdoor athletic stadium for Buffalo State College's intercollegiate athletics program, Clough Harbour & Associates LLP (CHA), a top-100 engineering, planning and design firm, has been selected to develop a study that will determine the location, features and budget for the stadium.

The facility will serve as home for Buffalo State College and Buffalo Public Schools athletics. The stadium will host Buffalo State's football; men's and women's soccer; men's and women's outdoor track and field and women's lacrosse teams, as well as Buffalo Public Schools athletic events.

The selection of CHA was made by Buffalo State College and the SUNY Construction Fund with input from a representative of the Buffalo Board of Education. CHA will work with Foit-Albert Associates, a leading architecture, engineering and surveying firm with offices in Buffalo, Albany and Watertown, N.Y.

"We are enthusiastic about taking this project forward and the team we have in place to study our options," said Stan Medinac, associate vice president, Facilities Planning, Buffalo State College.

The feasibility study is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed by this time next year when decisions will be made about proceeding, including the process for selecting a design and construction firm. Completion of the proposed stadium is envisioned for 2011.

Coyer Field, Buffalo State's existing outdoor athletic facility, has been home to Buffalo State's outdoor teams since the 1960s, but it lacks many necessary fan and student-athlete amenities, such as locker rooms, concessions stands and restrooms. The current grandstand and press box are also antiquated. Moreover, Coyer Field presents scheduling conflicts due to the lack of lights and the overuse of the natural grass surface.
In the meantime, steps have already been taken to install an artificial surface at the existing Coyer Field site this spring. Although the project will be a short-term fix for Coyer Field's overuse issue, the installation of an artificial surface will provide a long-term benefit the Buffalo State student body and the surrounding community.

The durability of artificial turf will permit use of Coyer Field for a wide array of intramural and community athletic activities. Upon completion of the new stadium, Coyer Field will still host Buffalo State practices and select contests. An announcement on the firm selected to install the artificial surface will come this fall.

About Clough Harbour & Associates LLP
Clough Harbour & Associates LLP is a highly diversified, full service engineering firm providing planning and design services to clients throughout the United States. The firm is ranked among the Top 100 US Design Firms by industry watcher Engineering News-Record (ENR). CHA has assisted numerous colleges, universities, and high schools with planning and designing cutting-edge athletic facilities.

About Foit-Albert Associates
Foit-Albert Associates is a 105-person architecture, engineering, and surveying firm located in Buffalo, Albany, New York City and Watertown. The firm has worked throughout the state on numerous educational campuses providing professional design services for new facilities, additions and alterations, as well as surveying, civil and environmental engineering services. Projects on the Buffalo State College campus include the Campus Capital Plan and Space Utilization Plan, renovations to the Houston Gym Fitness Center, and construction administration services for the Buffalo State Field House.

About Buffalo State College Athletics
Buffalo State College, an NCAA Division III institution, sponsors 18 varsity sports and approximately 375 student-athletes. The Bengals are members of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC),Eastern College Athletic Conference West (Women's Hockey) and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (Football). Since 1950, Buffalo State has produced five Academic All-Americans and 113 Athletic All-Americans.