JULES HOEPTING
Managing Editor
The obstruction caused by construction is bound to be noticed when walking around the Reed Library and Maytum Hall plaza.
How long will the construction fences stay up? What was the need for construction in the first place? Who is funding this construction — especially when SUNY Fredonia is running at a deficit?
According to Mike Metzger, Fredona’s Vice President for Finance and Administration, all SUNY Fredonia construction projects are funded through the State University Construction Fund (SUCF). SUCF was established in 1962 by NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller to ensure all SUNY campuses, regardless of size and budget, would be able to provide academic buildings and capital improvements for its campuses.
Out of the 64 SUNY campuses, 32 use SUCF. Thus, construction projects do not impact SUNY Fredonia’s budget at all “because they don’t cost us anything other than facilitating our buildings and our time,” Metzger said in an interview with The Leader.
Metzger explained that SUNY Fredonia, the Student Faculty Association, the Fredonia College Foundation and SUCF are four different entities, meaning the budgets and funding of these organizations are separate.
What construction projects are in the works?
Houghton Hall, a science academic building originally completed in the 1970s, is set to be finished this summer after years of renovations. The building has been under renovation longer than the five years Metzger has worked for the university. Houghton is currently partially utilized, and once it is completed, it will host the Departments of Geosciences, Computer and Information Sciences, and Physics. Thus, there will be a STEM branch of campus made up of Houghton Hall and Science Center mirroring the arts branch of campus made up of Rockefeller and Mason Hall.
Reed Library is also undergoing several changes.
The windows on the east side of the library were installed incorrectly and have been under corrective construction for two years.
The plaza on the west side of the library and Maytum Hall has been deteriorating and is in the process of being removed. Both Reed Library projects aim to be completed by this summer.
The Lanford House is under both internal and external renovations. The internal renovations are set to be completed by fall 2022, when President Dr. Stephen Kolison will move back into the house. The external renovations will continue with a planned completion date in fall 2023.
Less visible renovations are occurring in both Jewett Hall and Learning Commons, the interior of Reed Library, which are set to be completed in about four years. These projects are in different stages, discussion and/or design.
Mason Hall is set for discussions about design renovations: “The humidity, ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems need to be upgraded for the musical instruments to perform correctly,” Metzger said. He added a temporary fix to the problem will be implemented before the larger renovations are scheduled.
Who decides what construction takes place on campus?
A rolling five year plan is created and reviewed by the Facilities Planning Staff, the Executive Cabinet, the Space Management Committee and different academic departments. A member of Facilities Planning is employed by SUCF to ensure planned construction fits the needs of the campus, according to Metzger.
A Facilities Master Plan is created around every 10 years after an academic master plan is made to ensure facilities planning is in line with the academic demands of students and faculty.
While buildings and spaces are being renovated, they are fenced off and are taken over by SUCF–contracted businesses and employees. Once the renovations are completed, it is the task of Facilities Services to maintain the day-to-day cleaning and maintenance of campus property, Metzger explained.
For updates on campus construction, visit “Facilities Planning Projects” on fredonia.edu.