Brady PieperNew York is investing more than $200 million to retrofit deep energy utilities and develop sustainable infrastructure at the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury campus.
The state funding, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, will support a three-phase project at SUNY Old Westbury that will revolutionize energy sustainability on campus. The project looks to meet future demands by increasing campus energy efficiency by about 50%, while supporting university-wide efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste.
The project is a crucial aspect of SUNY’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan, which seeks to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and zero waste across all campuses. Guided by a 53-person advisory council, the plan requests $2.5 billion in state capital funding and Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Bond Act funds to implement energy efficiency and infrastructure projects over the next five years.
The Natural Science Building’s renovation will convert the existing structure into a state-of-the-art facility that will bolster the campus’ climate goals. The project, which will be completed in three phases, will include energy efficiency upgrades, modernized campus spaces and new teaching laboratories designed to promote collaboration.
The project’s first phase will encompass the groundbreaking of the Natural Science Building, which was originally opened in 1985. This phase will kickstart construction activities and focus on replacing obsolete laboratory spaces, relocating necessary equipment and creating a surge space for expanded building capacity.
The second phase will construct additional spaces for academic departments in the new building.
The final phase will prioritize work on both interior and exterior spaces, creating a balanced learning environment and developing a new “green” roof to further improve energy efficiency.
The first phase of the project is anticipated to be completed at some point in 2028. The remaining second and third phases are expected to be fully implemented by 2032. Interested entities may discover more about SUNY’s sustainability initiatives in the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan.
This investment in campus facilities and infrastructure will bring the state’s total to nearly $1.2 billion for SUNY’s sustainability, construction and redevelopment initiatives this year.
As part of these state investments, SUNY will secure approximately $1 billion to modernize and revive the SUNY Downstate hospital in central Brooklyn and $15 million for an electric vehicle initiative that will install charging stations universitywide.
“Once again, people will be looking at New York State as a leader in developing sustainable, green energy solutions that will not only enhance the academic experience for our students and faculty, but also contribute to a healthier environment for all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “With this state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facility, we are one step closer to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and zero waste across the SUNY system while also providing new opportunities for green workforce development and resilience in the face of climate change.”
Photo courtesy Garden Sprite, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
