Campus Construction Update, Fall 2024: Ongoing, Upcoming and Recently Completed Projects
Summer 2024 has been an active period for construction projects large and small on the SUNY New Paltz campus. A number have completed or will soon, and many more are scheduled to continue into the new academic year.
Please read on for brief updates about construction work recently completed, in progress and soon to begin.
Student Housing Upgrades and Expansions
SUNY New Paltz is nearing the completion of a multi-building renovation cycle involving the five Peregrine Complex residence halls: Ashokan, Awosting, Minnewaska, Mohonk and Shawangunk.
In 2024, the University reopened Awosting Hall to student residents. Awosting was the fourth of the five halls to undergo a full renovation, which in this case included the addition of a fourth floor that expanded campus housing capacity by 79 new beds and about 16,000 square feet.
Work is now underway at Mohonk Hall, the fifth and final Peregrine Complex renovation, which will similarly add a new fourth floor and more beds for students. Mohonk Hall will remain closed during this construction, with plans for reopening by the fall 2025 semester.
A multi-phase renovation is also in progress at Bliss Hall, where the work is focused on corridor upgrades, bathroom renovations and replacement s, bedroom enhancements and improved sprinkler systems. Work will proceed through the year and is on track to wrap up by fall 2025.
Also this year, smaller-scale mechanical system upgrades have been completed in Lenape, Esopus and Ridgeview Halls. Esopus Hall is getting a furniture upgrade, with new bedroom furniture already installed in freshly painted bedrooms and new lounge furniture arriving soon. New lounge carpeting and corridor upgrades will complete the Esopus Hall updates.
As is the case for all residence hall construction projects in the SUNY system, financing for these projects comes from bonds purchased via the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The debt service on these bonds does not come from taxpayer dollars or tuition, but from student housing fees.
Library Courtyard Rehabilitation
A significant redesign of the courtyard between Sojourner Truth Library, Fine Arts Building and Smiley Art Building has been progressing through the summer, with benefits to include greater accessibility, sustainability improvements and a more welcoming outdoor gathering space.
Hard surfaces are nearing completion as the semester begins, and landscaping and site furniture will follow later this fall.
In conjunction with the courtyard rehabilitation, various nearby stairs and ramps are being upgraded to improve safety and accessibility. Work on the stairs from the courtyard to the Excelsior Concourse (near the Wings) and the stairs at the Fine Arts Building are nearly complete.
Student Union 3rd Floor and MPR
A major renovation and reconfiguration of the SUB third floor is progressing. The finished work will include new student club meeting spaces, a new lounge, ESports Center, Multi-Cultural Center, and enhancements to the food pantry, faith offices and student service offices.
On the second floor, the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) is being renovated to improve space aesthetics, lighting, sound, stage and flexibility of use, which will combine to provide a more accommodating and modern indoor venue for large campus events.
Jacobson Faculty Tower Windows
This project is now fully complete, and all JFT faculty and staff have returned to their regular offices in the building. Old, drafty windows have been replaced with new, energy-efficient units to reduce costs and carbon footprint while giving the building a more modern exterior look. Also included in recent JFT work were upgrades to lobby entry vestibules and the bridge connectors to the Humanities Building.
Elevator Upgrades
Significant progress has been made in 2024 on a multi-phase elevator project answering maintenance concerns, improving aesthetics, and upgrading communications and operating equipment in 13 elevator cars across eight buildings.
Elevator car upgrades are complete in Bliss Hall, Gage Hall, Sojourner Truth Library (two cars), Smiley Art Building and Lecture Center.
Still pending are elevator upgrade projects in the Library, the Haggerty Administration Building, Coykendall Science Building and the Student Union, all of which are projected to complete within the 2024-25 academic year.
North Turf Field Replacement
An exciting upgrade for student athletes took place this summer at the North Turf Field, in time to provide a home field advantage to soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams this year.
The surface of the field has been replaced and enlarged to align with NCAA standards for multiple sporting events. Work will continue on a new press box/filming tour and restroom facility, with expected completion in spring 2025.
Roof Replacements
A series of roof replacements for maintenance and energy efficiency improvements is continuing. Projects were recently completed at College Terrace and Resnick Engineering Hall. The new roofing installation at Coykendall Science Building will continue into the fall semester.
Upcoming Projects
A number of construction projects are in various stages of design and planning and will begin soon.
Peregrine Dining Hall Renovation: A full rehabilitation and modernization of the main campus dining hall will improve all spaces for energy efficiency, accessibility, aesthetics and culinary offerings. This project is still in the design phase, with planning ongoing for alternative dining options while the building is under construction.
College & Shango Hall Renovation: Preliminary work is continuing on this project to transform this historic, mixed-use academic and residential building, which requires upgrades to antiquated and inefficient systems to meet new statewide efficiency requirements. The project will repurpose the building to a fully academic-space model including faculty offices, classrooms and specialty use spaces for departments in the School of Fine & Performing Arts and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Elting Gym & Pool Renovation: A full-scale interior and exterior renovation of Elting Gymnasium will provide updated spaces for athletics offices and support spaces, and support the rich array of popular wellness and recreation offerings at New Paltz. Chief among these enhancements will be a full replacement of the Elting Gym swimming pool, necessary to meet NCAA guidelines for our varsity swim teams while allowing for more flexible use for campus recreation and community outreach programs.
Stairway Upgrades: There are improvements coming to the stairs between Scudder & Capen Halls; the stairs at the southwest corner of the Student Union upper plaza; and the stairs leading from the Haggarty Administration Building Parking lot past Bouton Hall toward Smiley Art Building.
Gage & Capen Halls Bathroom Renovations: Following the ongoing project at Bliss Hall, Gage and Capen Halls are on tap for residence life upgrades focusing on the bathrooms and other spaces and systems.