Farmingdale, NY — Farmingdale State College president Dr. W. Hubert Keen, representatives of general contractor Stalco Construction and Urbahn Architects, New York State Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci, faculty members, and hundreds of enthusiastic students celebrated the opening of the new School of Business. The building will serve 2,200 students and 40 professors of the rapidly growing undergraduate business program.
“Part of a $185 million construction project, this is the most technologically advanced building on campus,” said President Keen. “We are so pleased to see the final result. The campus revitalization is thrilling for all of us.”
“The new, three-story, $19.3-million School of Business is one of the most architecturally prominent and technologically advanced higher education structures in the Northeast,” said Stalco Construction principal Kevin G. Harney. “The building, which is aiming for LEED Silver certification, features a striking, modern façade, expansive glass curtain wall, and a high number of environmentally responsible design and engineering solutions. The school’s energy efficiency performance exceeds New York State’s requirements by 30%. The construction cost of the project was $19 million.”
The new Farmingdale State College School of Business building is a part of the college’s $185 million campus improvement plan aimed at accommodating the college’s increasing enrollment, which recently reached 8,474. There are 2,228 undergraduate students currently enrolled in the School of Business programs that include applied economics, business management, computer systems, urban horticulture and design, sport management, and visual communications. Farmingdale State College is a part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Construction of the School of Business began in fall of 2012.
“Despite being the fastest growing program on the campus, the School of Business lacked a defined physical location and identity,” explained Farmingdale State College Facilities Contracts & Procurement Manager Erika Wachter. “The new building was needed to consolidate all programs into one location and was included in the college’s 2008-2013 five year capital plan. The financing was obtained through New York State University Construction Fund,” she added.
In addition to Stalco and architect and interior designer Urbahn Architects, the project team included construction manager Jacobs, structural engineer Consulting Engineers Collaborative; civil engineer BET Engineering Consultants; mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineer Vanderweil Engineers; lighting designer Domingo Gonzalez Associates; and landscape architect Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects.