University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Building boom on UB’s three campuses

The $54 million renovation of Kapoor Hall on the South Campus is one of many construction pronjects underway this spring and summer. Photo: DOUGLAS LEVERE

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By ELLEN GOLDBAUM

Published: May 6, 2009

UB is launching $362 million in construction projects this spring and summer in the first phase of a dramatic physical transformation of the university on a scale not seen since the North Campus was built during the 1970s.

The slate of projects—funded by New York State during previous years’ budget cycles, with additional support from private donors—includes bold, new buildings and transformative renovations, as well as repairs to existing facilities and enhancements to public spaces. From a state-of-the-art engineering building and a new home for the pharmacy school to a 5,000-panel solar array, this season’s projects begin to physically embody the UB 2020 plan for achieving academic excellence and securing UB’s place among the nation’s best public research universities.

More than 1,000 construction jobs will be created as a result of the projects on the North, South and Downtown campuses. Moreover, recent studies by the state Division of Budget and the Governor’s Office indicate that each $1 spent on a capital construction project equals $5.70 in related regional economic activity.

Applying this model to the UB projects, university officials estimate that the capital construction will create more than $2 billion in regional economic activity.

By 2012, more than 2,900 new construction jobs will be created as the result of the “Building UB” comprehensive physical plan, according to UB estimates.

In addition, UB’s campus expansion and growth in faculty, staff and students under the UB 2020 plan is projected to add nearly $2 billion annually to the local economy by 2023-24 and has the potential to create well over 10,000 new jobs.

Here is a partial list of construction projects under way this spring and summer on UB’s three campuses:

Downtown Campus:

• A $118 million Center for Clinical and Translational Research and a Bioscience Incubator within a 10-story building being constructed by UB and Kaleida Health on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Construction is an important step forward in the UB 2020 plan to expand UB academic and clinical health science programs in downtown Buffalo.

• A new $26 million building for the Educational Opportunity Center, which provides educational job training, college preparation and related support services to economically disenfranchised and academically disadvantaged populations in Western New York.

• $1.2 million in first-phase renovations to the UB Downtown Gateway (formerly the M. Wile building) to transform the facility into a hub for UB community initiatives and UB MD, the practice plan for more than 450 faculty physicians.

North Campus:

• A $61 million, state-of-the-art, 130,000-square-foot engineering building that will include a "clean room" for work with nanodevices, a "cybertorium" with sophisticated smart technologies and flexible research labs, classrooms and meeting areas to foster interdisciplinary work.

• A multimillion-dollar, 5,000-panel solar array to generate clean energy directly from the sun for students living in UB’s apartment complexes.

• $6.6 million in exterior public security enhancements, including the installation of 76 security cameras monitored by University Police; new energy-efficient campus lighting is in design.

• A $2.6 million renovation of the North Campus site of the UB Child Care Center.

South Campus:

• A $54 million renovation of Kapoor Hall, which will be a new state-of-the-art home to the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences when completed in 2012.

• Renovations of Wende and Kimball halls totaling $8.6 million.

• A $3 million restoration of Harriman Quad that includes a new plaza, enhanced landscaping and energy-efficient lighting.

• A $4.3 million renovation of the South Campus site of the UB Child Care Center.

• $2.4 million in energy-efficient exterior lighting and security enhancements, including 70 security cameras monitored by University Police.