Buffalo State launches $350M project

[steven]

Buffalo State College is embarking on a campuswide construction project that could cost more than $350 million.

First up is a pair of four-story residence halls – a $50 million initiative.
The first part of the two-phase project, tentatively scheduled for next year, also includes:
• New science and math centers, $110 million.
• Technology education center, $40.3 million.
• 4,000-seat open-air sports stadium, $40.3 million.

Also planned is a $5 million face-lift for Rockwell Hall, where space on the third floor once occupied by the Burchfield Penney Art Center will be replaced by an arts and music center, including a small recital hall.
Work on the residence halls plus reconstruction of Rockwell Road will take place this summer. The college’s center academic quad will be renovated over the next two years.

Several buildings will receive new roofs. Other infrastructure work is planned for this year.

In all, Buffalo State will invest approximately $110 million this year on various construction and renovation work, said Stanley Kardonsky, vice president of finance and management.

Adding campus housing is among the most pressing, he said.

Buffalo State has a shortage of campus housing options. It now supplies housing for 1,800 students, but projections show a demand for 2,700 students.

[joe d.]

What about that the awful mess on DART ST...where the city likes to hide its'
impounded vehicles. the old abandoned factory / warehouse is an eyesore.
WHY isnt this part of the plan???

[300miles]

Buffalo State College is embarking on a campuswide construction project that could cost more than $350 million.

Hopefully the residence dorms they build on Grant St. are designed in a way to benefit the development of Grant St. businesses too.

What about that the awful mess on DART ST... where the city likes to hide its' impounded vehicles. the old abandoned factory / warehouse is an eyesore. WHY isnt this part of the plan???

Is that even owned by Buff State?

[Enough]

Any cost to taxpayers?

[CSense]

Is that even owned by Buff State?

No. City of Buffalo

[joe d.]

Originally Posted by 300miles
Is that even owned by Buff State?
NO..but it was part of an earlier proposal to acquire, and I know of property owners in immediate area that were approached if they had an interest in selling.

[geo_wny]

This has been in the works for 5+ years now. They have started alot of construction already.

[300miles]

I've noticed that Buff State seems relatively secretive about their development plans. (Maybe all the colleges are?) Seems like the public doesn't hear much about it until a few months before they start digging.

Not saying that's a bad thing necessarily... just noticed....

[Anotherview]

I am surprised about the demand to accommodate 2,700 students in dorms. It is less expensive for 2 or 3 students to rent an apartment in that area.

[geo_wny]

For 9K a year you get all your meals, heat, water, electric, internet, computer usage 24/7, internet, cable, rec rooms, free laundry useage, furniture use in the dorm room. Not to bad of a deal.

[300miles]

What about that the awful mess on DART ST...where the city likes to hide its' impounded vehicles. the old abandoned factory / warehouse is an eyesore.
WHY isnt this part of the plan???

Is this the site you're talking about?
Looks like the stadium is going there.

http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/03...onclusion.html

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

I am surprised about the demand to accommodate 2,700 students in dorms. It is less expensive for 2 or 3 students to rent an apartment in that area.

I think/hope it is part of a plan to grow the enrollment of Buff State in terms of on Campus Students and the student body as a whole.

Do you know many parents that want to send their 17-18 year old kid off to Buffalo and have them live in an unstructured life found with off-campus housing? I have several friends who were RA's in college. The crap that they deal with is typical of a HS teen at times.

On campus housing comes furnished, with an RA, on campus security, secured building and a structured environment. Off campus housing does not come with furniture, RAs, campus security, secured buildings and any type of structure. It is a no brainier.

One of the biggest deciding factors for kids and parents is campus life. Right now...Buff State does not have much of a campus life to offer.

Give it a couple of years and you will find the demand for off campus housing go up, once the kids who live in these new dorms are in their 3rd, 4th and 5th years of school.

Right now, Buffalo State has about 9k undergraduate students. I hope the goal is to get 75% of the student body to be on campus students, while keeping the commuter students from the region. That should put Buff State at 13k students in undergrad by 2016.

[geo_wny]

I
One of the biggest deciding factors for kids and parents is campus life. Right now...Buff State does not have much of a campus life to offer.


I hope the goal is to get 75% of the student body to be on campus students, while keeping the commuter students from the region. That should put Buff State at 13k students in undergrad by 2016.

I agree Buff State does not have a campus life, but what I don't agree is with the commuter statement, what would be the point of not allowing people who commute to enter the college?

People then will be taking out larger loans to pay for housing instead of being smart and commuting.... Also you are leaving out non-traditional college students.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

I agree Buff State does not have a campus life, but what I don't agree is with the commuter statement, what would be the point of not allowing people who commute to enter the college?

People then will be taking out larger loans to pay for housing instead of being smart and commuting.... Also you are leaving out non-traditional college students.

I think you are confused or something else.

I never said that they should get rid of the commuters. What I think Buff State is looking to do is KEEP the commuters but build the student body via non-commuting students.

Say the student body is 50% commuters and 50% non-commuters today and the whole body is 9,000 students.

If Buff State is to grow, to say 14,000 students (using random numbers), they would want the 5,000 NEW students to be students who DID NOT commute from WNY.

[geo_wny]

I guess I was confused,

I thought you ment to block enrollment to those who commute....and only accept students that will mainly dorm....

My appologies...