SUNY Oneonta unveils renovations with visit from chancellor

Sep. 27—About 200 people attended a reopening of SUNY Oneonta's Alumni Hall Wednesday, an event that showcased the renovated facility and featured a visit by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.

King praised the newly reopened 47,000-square-foot building, originally constructed in 1958 as the first building to house the Milne Library.

"It's gratifying to see a 65-year old-building adapted with cutting edge technology that allows us to maintain our history, even as we embrace modernity," he said.

Wednesday's event included remarks by SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle, State Assembly Member Brian Miller, R-122nd District, and SUNY Oneonta Student Association President Emily DeStefano.

DeStefano, a senior and business economics major, said that student reaction to the newly renovated facility have been positive.

"I have seen so many students utilizing the spaces for studying and socializing," she said. "I also know the faculty are delighted to be able to have offices in the building that they are teaching in. It is exciting to have a welcoming space for alumni as well, and I know I plan on using this space when I come back in a few years after I graduate in the spring."

Alumni Hall now houses the university's Division of Advancement and the departments of business, economics and political science.

With a mix of classrooms, offices and meeting spaces for students, staff and alumni, the building's highlights include a stock trading simulation room, a student entrepreneurial space and a large conference room on the upper floor.

The project was led by Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation, an Albany firm that specializes in the reuse of existing and historic buildings.

The building renovation took five years from the start of design until completion and cost about $22 million, funded from state capital appropriations.

The project is the final step in the 2013-23 campus facilities master plan and sets the stage for the next plan, according to information from the university.

The project also represents the first step in the university's Clean Energy Master Plan, which provides a road map to long-term decarbonization.

Alumni Hall is the first building on campus to employ geothermal wells as its main source of heating and cooling, using 39 geothermal wells that are 499 feet deep each under the parking lot.

The building also incorporates new design features such as upgraded ventilation and filtration systems.

Carbon emissions are estimated to be 3.2 pounds per square foot per year versus conventional construction at 15 pounds per square foot per year.

Overall, the project reduces campus site carbon emissions by approximately 130 tons per year, according to information from the university.

Remaining carbon emissions from electricity use are offset through purchase of renewable energy credits, making the building effectively net zero carbon emissions.

LEED Gold Certification is pending.

King spoke about a new initiative that strengthens transfer opportunities between SUNY community colleges and four-year colleges to help students pursue bachelor's degrees.

According to a press release Wednesday from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office, state investment through the SUNY Transformation Fund, which was enacted in this year's budget, will allow SUNY to offer more students early advisement.

SUNY Oneonta will be partnering with Broome, Dutchess, Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley and Schenectady community colleges to provide early personalized advisement to future transfer students.

Nationally, 80% of first-year community college students say they plan to further their education by obtaining a bachelor's degree, however only 17% of those students receive one within six years, according to the Community College Research Center.

Most of the campuses are expected to launch the program either later this year or the start of next academic year.

King said that thousands of students across the 19 of community colleges are poised to benefit from the expanded transfer opportunity.

"We've got students who are moving from Mohawk Valley to Oneonta because they want to become teachers," he said. "We have students who might get a two-year associate's degree in engineering tech and then move into a bachelor's degree in engineering. We want to make sure that for all of our students, we support them. Not only in earning their degree, but making a good transition to a great job after they've graduated."