Construction of SUNY Old Westbury’s new Natural Sciences Building has brought both excitement and frustration to campus this semester. While the new facility is expected to transform academics on campus, the road to completion has created dust, debris and reduced parking near the construction site.

The new facility promises modern laboratories, expanded research spaces, and updated classrooms for the School of Arts and Sciences.

Jolline Andre, one of many commuter students here at SUNY Old Westbury, says these conditions have made navigating campus a daily challenge.

“Sometimes when I am walking from the Student Union parking lot to my classes, I can see the dust and construction exhaust in the air, especially when the wind shifts,” she said. “It’s not every minute, but on busy construction days it makes breathing feel tighter, and it does worry me the effect this has for those on campus.”

Raymond Maggiore, the Assistant Vice President of Capital Planning at SUNY Old Westbury, said that the college has implemented measures to ensure safety and limit dust and exhaust exposure.

“We’re making sure that the heaviest work happens in the early morning hours, to mitigate any disruptions to students and staff on campus,” Maggiore said. “In the area where the construction is taking place, we’re ensuring that the exhaust from the site is centralized to one area, away from the main campus center. With most of the project being completed by the end of 2026, these issues should subside within the next year.”

Megan Valenti, assistant prof of Biological Sciences at SUNY Old Westbury, said that temporary adjustments have been necessary while the new building is under construction. One of those is moving some of the science offices and classrooms across campus to the Woodlands building 5 and to a temporary building called the Annex.

“While it’s farther than our original home, the new classrooms and labs being built will offer modern, fully equipped spaces that will greatly enhance student learning and research opportunities once the project is complete,” she said.

Parking has become another challenge, particularly in the Student Union Parking lot, where several areas of spaces have been moved to make way for new geothermal heating systems for the new facility.

“Last semester, a majority of the student union lot was closed, but with the other section currently under construction, parking has become a gamble on campus,” said Solaris Yan, another commuter student.

Maggiore said the university is aware of how these changes affect its primarily commuter population and is working to ease the strains for students and staff.

“We understand the frustrations students are facing, and we’re continuing to explore ways to improve traffic flow and accommodate parking needs while construction is underway,” he said, explaining that the 60 parking spaces currently out of commission will be back in action by the Fall 2026 semester.

Despite the ongoing disruptions, campus officials like Maggiore say the long term benefits will outweigh the temporary inconveniences. The new Natural Sciences building is designed to support growing STEM enrollment, expand research capacity and modernize SUNY Old Westbury’s academic infrastructure.

The new Natural Sciences building, slated to be completed in three phases, will bring state of the art facilities designed to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding STEM community. When finished, the 70,000 square foot complex will feature modern laboratories, interactive classrooms, collaborative research areas and updated faculty offices, all aimed at strengthening hands-on learning and scientific training on campus.

Maggiore says the building will not only upgrade the college’s infrastructure but also create new opportunities for students across disciplines.

“This project represents a long term investment in the future of SUNY Old Westbury,” he said. “Our goal is to create an environment where students can learn, innovate, and pursue advanced research in an environment that truly supports them.”

As the campus continues to navigate dust, noise and parking challenges, officials like Maggiore remain confident that the final result will be worth the wait. By late 2026, the new Natural Sciences building will begin to stand as a centerpiece of SUNY Old Westbury’s academic landscape, a sign of growth, renewed investment and a commitment to preparing students for an increasingly STEM driven future.

“We’ve been waiting for this monumental change, one that lifts the quality of our education and pushes our STEM programs forward,” Maggiore said. “With a facility that rivals those at private institutions, SUNY Old Westbury will be able to better compete without rising costs for students.”