Buffalo State College: Technology Building

Buffalo State College: Technology Building

PHOTOS © 2014 TIM WILKES PHOTOGRAPHY

SUNY Buffalo State’s new three-story, 87,000-square-foot Technology Building establishes a technology-based educational center, which will be a focal point for industry education and integrated learning. It replaces existing facilities inadequate for high-tech manufacturing research and instruction.

Project architect, The S/L/A/M Collaborative, fulfilled project goals to create a facility that would elevate the visibility of technology on campus, maximize shared teaching spaces, attract and retain faculty, provide shared student resources space and be an incubator for regional industry.

According to school officials, the facility supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s innovation agenda through its smart-grid laboratories with cutting edge equipment. “This new asset will better prepare our workforce and train our students for the jobs of tomorrow, while also encouraging innovation and nurturing new businesses right here in Western New York,” Governor Cuomo said in a press statement, when the building officially opened in September 2013.

The facility includes labs for teaching and research, lean production, materials testing, environment and information technologies. It also includes smart classrooms, lecture halls and support spaces. Among the subjects offered are fashion and textile technology, electrical engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology and computer information systems.

The LEED Gold-certified building is a showpiece for technology and a teaching tool for sustainability. It is also a campus hub for the largely commuter-based student body.

Sustainability features include an extensive green roofing system on the lower roof to mitigate stormwater and heat loads; photovoltaic solar panels are mounted on the upper roof to provide renewable energy for a portion of the electrical loads. The long axis of the linear bar building runs east to west, reinforcing Buffalo State’s master plan for a linear pedestrian mall. The linear bar configuration and the building’s orientation allows ample daylighting and exterior access to four high-bay project spaces on the first floor. Additionally, student projects are featured on a digital display that also provides real-time updates on building systems’ performance.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Geometrik

    Armstrong World Industries, designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications like ceilings, walls, and metal solutions, recently announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik, according to a news release. The British Columbian Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

  • Delta State University Completes Renovations to School of Nursing Facilities

    Delta State University recently completed a major expansion and renovation project for the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing facilities on its campus in Cleveland, Miss., according to a news release. The project includes about 14,000 square feet of new construction and more than 21,000 square feet of renovation work to the existing space.

  • Los Angeles City College Breaks Ground on New Administration, Workforce Building

    Los Angeles City College (LACC) in Los Angeles, Calif., recently broke ground on a new $72-million administrative facility, according to a news release. The Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building will stand four stories, cover 67,230 square feet, and play home to a wide variety of the school’s educational and administrative services.

Digital Edition