Newswise — Binghamton University, State University of New York, today officially opened the doors of its Downtown Center, bringing with it enhanced opportunities for community and educational partnerships, and a new sense of vibrancy to the heart of Binghamton.
Home to the University's College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA), the center, located at 67 Washington Street, puts faculty, staff and students affiliated with its programs in human development, public administration and social work close to the agencies and organizations with which they collaborate.
The 74,400 square foot, four-level brick and limestone building includes a three-story atrium that opens onto an exterior plaza and landscaped outdoor areas that connect to the City's River Walk. The floor design in the lobby reflects the history of the area and features curves and patterns that are the outlines of building and other structures that previously stood on the site. Offering 11 state of the art classrooms, the center also has conference areas, a combined library and computer pod, CCPA and Broome Community College offices, a coffee kiosk and a student lounge.
Built at a cost of $29 million, this first-of-its-kind project for the State University Construction Fund was bid as several contracts, allowing construction of the shell of the building to begin before the interior design work was completed. Additional contracts were awarded for the interior and site work after the building shell was in progress, fast tracking the entire project to meets its ambitious deadline.
Working with the University's Physical Facilities staff and a campus planning committee, HOLT Architects, PC, of Ithaca, NY, designed the building to fit into the Binghamton cityscape and blend with the downtown historic district. The construction project was managed by LeChase Construction Services, Inc. of Rochester, NY.
The center is certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance 'green' buildings. LEED features in the building include high-efficiency mechanical equipment and lighting, energy-efficient windows, daylight views to reduce the need for artificial lighting, and recycled building materials.
The University Downtown Center will be open to the public during regular building hours, which are 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the week, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Visitors will be able to access the building through the Washington Street entrance where they will receive a visitor's pass. The building will be staffed by New York State University Police, and security guards 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It is estimated that the building has created 840 jobs during its construction period and provided an economic impact of $57 million.
Photos available on request.
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