UB breaks ground on Russell L. Agrusa Hall

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences students like Jada Mowatt have long hoped for a student-focused building where they can collaborate, experiment and position themselves as leaders in the economy of the future.

Mowatt, a chemical engineering PhD student, got to witness the groundbreaking of exactly such a facility on Tuesday, and thank the person whose generosity helped make it possible: UB alumnus Russell L. Agrusa.

“Thank you for believing and investing in us, as the next generation of engineers and computer scientists,” Mowatt said as she addressed a crowd of officials and community members at the groundbreaking ceremony. 

Russell L. Agrusa Hall, to be located on what is now the Furnas parking lot on the North Campus, will accommodate the continued growth of SEAS, where enrollment has surged to approximately 7,500 students, up 46% from 2013.

“Russell L. Agrusa Hall will have a transformative impact on our School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and our university community,” President Satish K. Tripathi said in prepared remarks. “Consider the collaborations that will form there and contribute to economic prosperity and vitality in the region, state and well beyond; the students who will be educated there and go on to lead in their fields; the innovations that will take root there, producing the technologies of tomorrow. On behalf of all of us at UB, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to UB alumnus Russ Agrusa for this historic gift, and to Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Representative Tim Kennedy and the Western New York state delegation for their enduring support of UB and our mission of excellence.”

Agrusa, who received an electrical engineering degree from UB in 1976, is founder and retired CEO of ICONICS Inc. He committed $40 million to UB last year, half of which will kick start construction of the building. The remaining $20 million will support engineering and computer science programs.

“The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has been a significant part of my life for many years,” Agrusa said in prepared remarks. “As a student, it instilled in me the knowledge and confidence to pursue my goals. As an alumnus, it has become an integral part of my identity beginning when I and my late wife, Paula, were approached by Tim Siderakis and Mark Karwan over 24 years ago.

“I’ve been supportive and involved with the school ever since,” Agrusa said. “It is a privilege to support the university in establishing this new learning center for future thought leaders in engineering and computer science, and it’s my honor that my name will be associated with the school moving forward in this significant way.”

Russell and the late Paula Agrusa previously made gifts in support of several UB projects, including a student innovation competition in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering; the Agrusa Auditorium in Davis Hall; and Paula’s Plaza, an exterior space beside Jacobs Management Center honoring Paula, a 1978 School of Management alumna.  

Plans for the new engineering building were first announced in 2022 by Hochul, who with the support of state lawmakers, set aside $68 million toward its construction. The building is expected to cost roughly $111 million.

Walter T. Mosley, New York secretary of state, told those attending the groundbreaking that the governor’s office understands the importance of preparing the state’s young people to tackle the complex problems of the 21st century. 

“We are not just celebrating the brick-and-mortar foundation of a building. We’re also setting the standards and foundation for future generations of engineers, scientists and innovators,” Mosley said.

The new building will be a hub of student-centric activity, according to engineering dean Kemper E. Lewis.

“This building is being designed with the primary aim of enhancing the student experience at UB,” Lewis said in prepared remarks. “It will be a welcoming and supportive space for all students, and it will serve as a central gathering point where they are inspired to pursue their intellectual curiosities and develop innovative solutions for society’s greatest challenges.”

Elected officials, both during and prior to the ceremony, applauded the groundbreaking, as well as the important role that UB, a flagship of SUNY, plays in the regional and state higher education landscape.

“The University at Buffalo is the crown jewel of research institutions in the State of New York and this $111 million investment in Russell L. Agrusa Hall will ensure our region continues to lead,” said Rep. Tim Kennedy. “The state-of-the-art facility will meet the growing needs of students, empower researchers to make important discoveries, and bolster our STEM workforce. I applaud Gov. Hochul and leaders at UB for their efforts to provide the next generation of bright minds with the tools and support they need to thrive and contribute to our economy and the sciences.”

Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, majority leader of the state Assembly, noted that the state’s investment in the new engineering building “is rooted in our belief in UB’s long history of world-class research right here in Western New York.”

“New York State has reaped the benefits of UB’s leadership in the fields of engineering and computer science, and will continue to do so, as students are choosing UB in record numbers to become the world’s future engineers and computer scientists,” Peoples-Stokes said. “This new building will help prepare them. I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished.”

Added State Sen. Sean Ryan: “The growth of engineering and computer science programs at the University at Buffalo exemplifies why UB is a flagship institution of the SUNY system. The state’s investment in this new building, as well as Russell Agrusa’s generous contribution, will help UB continue to provide life-changing educational opportunities that bring students to Buffalo from around the world.”

Also participating in the groundbreaking were state Assemblymember Karen McMahon and Laura Hubbard, vice president for finance and administration.

The architecture firm for the building is Page Architects; LeChase Construction is the construction manager.