Buffalo State Opens New Technology Building

SUNY Buffalo State opened its new state-of-the-art, 87,000-square-foot Technology Building Thursday. The facility supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s innovation agenda through its smart-grid laboratories with cutting-edge equipment.

“New York’s outstanding SUNY system continues to play an important role in our economic development and innovation agenda,” Governor Cuomo said in a press statement. “Buffalo State’s new Technology Building is a significant investment that builds on the high standards of SUNY and enhances what our schools have to offer to students, faculty, and our partners in the private sector. This new asset will better prepare our workforce and train our students for the jobs of tomorrow, while also encouraging innovation and nurturing new businesses right here in Western New York. Paired with our continuing efforts to revitalize the Upstate economy, these investments by SUNY will ensure that New York State remains competitive today and in the future.”

The Technology Building includes a state-of-the-art fabric printer and a 3D printer that enables students and researchers to produce working models or prototypes. The facility marks another milestone in Buffalo State’s construction boom that includes nearly $350 million in new construction and improvements scheduled through 2016 that will transform the campus.

“This investment at Buffalo State exemplifies SUNY’s commitment to providing our students and researchers with the tools they need to innovate, commercialize, and be a force for positive change across New York,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. “SUNY will continue to work closely with Governor Cuomo to drive economic development and create the entrepreneurial college campuses that will help draw more companies and intellectual capital to New York.”

“Buffalo State’s new Technology Building fulfills a critical campus need for a signature facility to house these high-demand programs in one building, which is a major step in creating a strong sense of community and cohesiveness for each discipline,” said Buffalo State Interim President Howard Cohen. “In addition to further elevating the teaching and learning experience, there are many enhanced research and development opportunities that await our students, faculty, and industry partners who will use the exciting state-of-the-art resources available in this impressive facility.”

The Technology Building is located near the center of campus on the former site of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center’s laundry and bakery buildings, south of the college’s Classroom Building. It opened just prior to the beginning of the fall semester and houses three popular departments within the School of the Professions: Engineering Technology on the first floor, Computer Information Systems on the second floor, and Fashion and Textile Technology on the third floor.

“This building will provide highly sophisticated, flexible, and functional space for our students to succeed in a very competitive marketplace, and should provide our region and the world the foundation for a technologically savvy workforce,” said Rita Zientek, interim dean of the School of the Professions.

Engineering Technology Department chair and associate professor Jim Mayrose said, “As the country is moving toward alternative energy, we are creating classes around that idea. We’ll be able to give students hands-on experience. The building itself is a teaching tool.”

Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative and constructed by LPCiminelli and general contractor ManningSquiresHennig Co. Inc., the building boasts a 5,060-square-foot vegetated green lower roof area and a photovoltaic solar collector on the upper roof. It is expected to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council. Notable measures include:

• The building is 35.6 percent more energy efficient than a base building of this type.
• During construction, more than 70 percent of waste materials were diverted from landfills to be recycled or reused.
• Approximately 25 percent of the building’s contents, including structural beams, wallboards, and flooring, have been recycled.
• Almost 60 percent of the building’s materials came from within a 500-mile radius.
• The building’s 221 rooftop solar panels can generate up to 50 kilowatts of electricity.
• The vegetated lower roof helps reduce storm water runoff and protects and improves the insulation value of the roofing system.

Richard A. Stempniak, associate professor of engineering technology, who served as the faculty liaison for the building said, “An important group of people to thank is the Western New York Building Trades, who worked tirelessly to ensure this project was built on time and under budget.”

About SUNY Buffalo State
Buffalo State, a State University of New York (SUNY) campus located in Buffalo’s Elmwood Village, offers degrees in the arts, education, the sciences and professional studies. Each year, about 11,000 students choose Buffalo State for its broad array of high-quality and distinctive academic programs, diverse and creative environment, hands-on learning opportunities, affordable SUNY tuition and location in the heart of Buffalo’s cultural corridor.