Fall 2021 campus construction showcases student-centered renovations, ADA-compliant changes, efficiency upgrades and more

Campus improvement projects continue to progress at SUNY New Paltz this fall, as Facilities Management staff have safely proceeded with new construction, renovation and upgrades, collaborating with contractors and other partners to enhance living and learning spaces across campus.

“While construction was even more challenging to navigate with additional safety protocols in place, we were able to deliver many improvements for the campus community and visitors over this past year,” said Director of Facilities, Design & Construction Megan Smailer. “These projects focused on enhanced accessibility, safety, wayfinding and energy efficiency, as well as creating up-to-date, comfortable and more aesthetically pleasing spaces.”

These projects are funded by the State University Construction Fund and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, not the campus budget. These agencies support and provide oversight for construction projects across the SUNY system.

Read on for details about major construction projects recently completed and ongoing.

 

Student Union Building Renovation – COMPLETED

The Student Union Building has undergone extensive renovations to provide on-campus and commuter students with modern, inviting spaces featuring meeting rooms, lounges and our Center for Student Media.

The full renovation of the SUB fourth floor reclaimed underused spaces on the east side to create new resources for students, including a shared studio suite for the campus radio station, TV station and newspaper.

The space also includes a new multi-purpose dance studio, new meeting rooms with improved acoustic separation, accessibility improvements to bathrooms, and new locations for the Meditation Room and Mother’s Rooms.

In addition to the interior spaces, the roofing was replaced with a new, more resilient TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) single-ply roof system.

 

Parker Theatre Renovation – COMPLETED

Parker Theatre has been equipped with new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant railings, an interior ramp at Dance Studio 103, and automatic door operators in the Costume Shop area.

Existing sinks in the ground floor of the gender-neutral restroom were also replaced with a new ADA-compliant sink and associated accessories.

 

Bouton Hall Renovation – IN PROGRESS

The Bouton Hall Bathroom Renovation Project was designed with a phased approach to address aging systems within the building and to modernize the bathrooms throughout to enhance the living experience for residents. The original gang-style bathroom design was abandoned in favor of modern private bathrooms. Each bathroom includes a sink, toilet, shower and locking door.

In the project’s first phase, one stack of bathrooms and a custodial bathroom and work area have been renovated and all mechanical systems that supply the bathrooms were upgraded. The second phase will upgrade the remaining bathrooms.

This project is expected to be completed this fall.

 

Fine Arts Building Renovations – IN PROGRESS

The Fine Arts building is undergoing renovations to the building’s facade. Once completed, it will have new energy-efficient thermal windows and doors in addition to an entirely new exterior appearance.

This work will eliminate failing elements of the brick façade and improve energy efficiency with additional insulation and new glazing.

This project is expected to continue into the fall semester.   

 

Driving, Pedestrian, Wayfinding Improvements – ONGOING

The College completed new paving and granite curbing from Route 32 to South Road intersection, sloped transitional curb cuts, and repaving of Southside Loop roadway to resolve uneven surfaces and depressions, to allow easier transition from sidewalk to sidewalk over the roadway, and to enhance long-term maintenance options.

Work at the Haggerty Administration Building’s north steps location included replacement of the old asphalt stairs and painted steel ramp railings. New granite steps with concrete landings and new stainless-steel railings will replace the old to enhance the entry to the HAB Plaza.

Final revisions for the design/layout phase of the Exterior Wayfinding Signage improvement project are underway. The project consists of updating old signage and adding new wayfinding signage and will be ready for construction start in spring 2022.

The campus community can get a sneak peek of the new design outside The Dorsky Museum, where signage was already installed this summer.