On February 5th, SUNY Old Westbury faculty, staff, and students gathered outside of the Natural Science Building to break ground for its pending renovation and expansion. The 60,000-square-foot facility was built in 1985 and has been the university’s home for STEM classrooms, laboratories, and lecture halls for over 40 years. Over recent years, the building has become dilapidated, with dated facilities, classrooms, and ventilation systems, leading to student and staff relocations across campus. This has provided many challenges for STEM students as they have undergone years of educational disruption.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King gathered alongside university President Sams, Board Chairman Meryl Tisch, and State University Construction Fund Leader Bob Haelen with hard hats and shovels in hand to commemorate his historic occasion. They dug into the grounds of the basketball court, just outside of the rear of the NSB, smiling with anticipation for what’s to come for the future of the institution.
The $200 million renovation and expansion is the first update to the building since its inception and will be one of the biggest construction projects in the institution’s history. It is anticipated to be completed through 3 phases over seven years. The new facility will boast 70,000+ square feet of new labs, a campus greenhouse, collaborative spaces and faculty offices.
In an interview, President Sams highlighted how pivotal this renovation is for the future of the university. “The renovation and expansion of our current science facilities into a modern center of learning are crucial to our ability to continue to grow as an institution and to prepare young men and women for the positions in hospitals, laboratories, wind and chip manufacturing, public health, and more that await them.” President Sams’
vision for the university will ensure we foster a community in which professors and students can collaborate.
Although the renovation has taken under 5 years to plan and execute, students can expect a change for programs like CSTEP and OW STEAM that cater and foster projects and research to stem majors and faculty. Sams stated, “It’s our stake in the ground to become the national leader at the intersection of diversity and stem. We want to be the place known across the nation, where we provide access and tremendous opportunity within a stem framework for diverse students across the nation. For me, it is essential for the future and elevation of our university.” This will encourage exchange students to come study in a university that has state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms for immersive STEM programs.
Here are the phases according to the SUNY Old Westbury website. “The Natural Science Building project will be constructed in three phases. The first phase, moving forward with the recent groundbreaking, focuses on the replacement of outdated laboratory spaces, the relocation of the specialized research equipment and support space, and the creation of surge space. This initial step lays the groundwork for the comprehensive modernization and expansion of the building. The second phase will construct a new addition to the building to house additional space for the departments. The third phase will include the renovation of the balance of interior as well as the exterior rehabilitation of the facility.” We are currently in phase one of the three phases, which are expected to take more than 7 years to be complete.
President Sams is focusing on diversity in STEM, stating that the renovation is just the first step in the university’s strategic plan and vision. The university is improving its sustainability through this state funded renovation. According to the university website, “…the project will see the complete renewal of the building, which first opened in 1985, including a deep energy retrofit in keeping with SUNY’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan.” This sustainability action plan secures resources to help aid sustainability efforts in New York State. This allows for more sustainability not just on campus, but on Long Island.
