The fall 2018 semester will see the continuation of an unprecedented run of physical additions and improvements to the SUNY New Paltz campus, as Facilities Management staff collaborate with contractors and other partners to enhance the College’s modern living and learning spaces.
“Our Facilities Management team has done an exceptional job in recent years serving the campus community and preserving and improving the campus infrastructure,” said John Shupe, assistant vice president for Facilities Management. “It’s a privilege to work with the many dedicated individuals who help make this campus an attractive, safe and efficient place for the students, faculty, staff and visitors who live and learn here.”
Below are updates on the ahead-of-schedule Engineering Innovation Hub, the opening of a new bakery at Hasbrouck Dining Hall, and the addition of 240 new parking spaces in the Route 32 lot east of campus, among other projects.
Engineering Innovation Hub
Construction advanced through the summer on the Engineering Innovation Hub, and the foundations of the exterior enclosures are now in place. The project broke ground in October 2017 and is on track to open in 2019.
Upon completion, this nearly 19,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will help support and diversify the College’s rapidly growing engineering programs and support collaboration between the College and local industry.
The project was made possible by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s NYSUNY 2020 grant competition, in which SUNY New Paltz was awarded $10 million to help improve economic development in New York State. The investment is projected to yield an economic impact of more than $75 million, and 195 jobs, over a 10-year period.
Route 32 Parking Lot Expansion
The College’s Route 32 lot expansion on the east side of campus will add 240 new parking spaces, and is on track to open at the beginning of the fall 2018 semester.
The College purchased the home and property abutting existing Route 32 parking in 2013, and began planning a parking expansion soon thereafter.
Contractors have also added new pedestrian walkways between Lefevre Hall and Hopfer House and relocated pedestrian crosswalks to accommodate the new footpaths. New crossing signals at the main walkway are scheduled for installation this fall.
Sweets & Treats
A brand new bakery has opened in Hasbrouck Dining Hall! Sweets & Treats will serve residents, commuters and campus with fresh, seasonal baked goods, as well as soup, Paninis and Peet’s Coffee.
A grand opening celebration at Sweets & Treats will be held on Aug. 27, featuring apple cider doughnuts and other signature items.
Dining Options & Accommodations
In addition to the new bakery, Facilities Management staff worked with partners at Sodexo to add a new, allergen-free station in Hasbrouck Dining Hall, a communal space for students with food sensitivities.
A new, organic convenience store will open in the Ridgeview Hall Roost this fall as well, stocked with vegan grab-and-go options, including falafel, Asian noodles and sandwiches.
The Roost will also introduce a new dining option, Chick-N-Bap, serving authentic New York City-style Korean street food.
Residence Halls
The College is continuing its gut renovations of the campus’s 50-year-old residence halls, a series of projects managed by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and financed by student housing fees.
The next construction site will be Deyo Hall, where work is scheduled to begin in summer 2019. The Facilities Management team is working with designers to finalize that phase of the project, and will then take bids for construction.
Unlike prior renovations at Bevier, Crispell and Lefevre halls, which were conducted in about seven months each, the Deyo Hall renovation will include the addition of a fourth floor of student living spaces. The expansion will add nearly 80 beds to the hall’s residential capacity, with the full renovation and addition forecasted to take about 15 months to complete. The newly renovated Deyo Hall is scheduled to open in fall semester 2020.
Varsity Tennis Courts
Facilities Management oversaw the resurfacing of the varsity tennis courts near Elting Gymnasium, enhancing both the playing experience and the appearance of the courts for the women’s tennis team.
Campus Infrastructure
These small projects may not attract as much attention as a new building or a radical infusion of sustainable energy, but they play a vital role in keeping campus safe, accessible and attractive.
One quality-of-life upgrade can be found outside Wooster and Ridgeview halls, where work is ongoing to add new outdoor seating. New tables and chairs now complement indoor seating options at the Element 93 café on the west side of Wooster Hall. Also watch for new outdoor seating on the west side of the Ridgeview residence. Additional installations, including stone benches, will be added on the south side of Ridgeview Hall this fall.
A small-scale renovation of the Psychological Counseling Center was conducted over the summer to add new office spaces and upgrade existing spaces, to better serve Center staff and students who take advantage of its services.
The elevator in the Fine Arts Building was replaced over the summer and will open early in the fall semester.
