Simpson to Present UB's Plan for Growth to Members of WNY's Young Professional Groups

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- University at Buffalo President John B. Simpson will meet with members of Western New York's leading young professional groups to present his ambitious plan to grow UB by 40 percent and discuss its potential impact on the regional economy.

Simpson's presentation to members and guests of the New Millennium Group, Revitalize Buffalo, Buffalo Jaycees and Buffalo 2032 will begin at 7 p.m. on May 2 at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum located at 220 North St. in Buffalo.

Simpson will be joined in the presentation by Robert Shibley, professor and director of the Urban Design Project in the UB School of Architecture and Planning. Shibley is overseeing UB's master-planning process, which will transform dramatically the landscape and infrastructure of UB's North (Amherst), South (Main Street) and Downtown campuses in keeping with the objectives of UB's strategic plan, UB 2020.

According to Simpson, UB's plan to grow by 10,000 students and 750 faculty members over the next 15 years substantially will increase UB's $1.2 billion annual economic impact on Western New York. It will be a major catalyst for the kind of economic revitalization seen in Silicon Valley, Seattle, Boston and other great cities with great universities.

"As UB grows and prospers, so will Western New York," Simpson said.

"That is the message I want to deliver to young professionals whose talent and leadership is so critical to our region's future. With their support and the support of the entire community, UB's growth can be the spark that transforms our economy from one based primarily on manufacturing to one based on knowledge, technology and creativity."

Since announcing in September the plan to grow UB, Simpson has met with many community, policy and business leaders to discuss the plan's potential impact on Western New York and to invite their ideas and feedback. In these discussions, Simpson has described his vision for achieving enduring academic excellence at UB. A bigger and better UB, Simpson said, will lead to regional job growth, improve quality of life, bring in millions of dollars of research funding and new venture capital, create new companies and support existing ones and reverse the "brain drain" exodus of young people from our region.

Shibley also has made numerous presentations to area leaders. In his presentation Wednesday to members of the young professional groups, Shibley will outline the beginnings of a new comprehensive physical plan for UB's three campuses. The plan will support UB's targeted growth and will transform UB's campus environments dramatically, Shibley said.

It will lead to the creation of modern, attractive and safe spaces on all three campuses -- transforming UB's "learning landscapes" and creating memorable environments for students, faculty, staff and community members to interact.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York.