A cross section of community leaders and the Farmingdale State College community celebrated the official opening of the new $25 million Campus Center on Friday.
Students and faculty, led the college President Dr. W. Hubert Keen kicked off the celebration Friday. State Senator Jr., R-Merrick, Assemblyman Bob Sweeney, D-Lindenhurst, and newly-elected Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci, R-Huntington, an adjunct professor, also spoke at the ceremony.
The 50,000-square foot building boasts new dining facilities for resident and commuter students, a campus bookstore, a ballroom for lectures and special events, a student lounge, and several unique architectural features.
“Farmingdale State College has taken yet another step forward in its continued development," Fuschillo said. "The new, modern campus center will be a critical component to Farmingdale State's infrastructure that will greatly benefit students and staff for years to come."
The Campus Center has a roof constructed of energy-efficient materials. The ballroom will have a capacity of 400 for lectures and events, and 220 for dinner-style seating. A special feature of the building is the oculus—a rounded skylight—in the lobby that provides a spacious and inviting atmosphere as well as lounges which will help to ignite student-faculty interactions. The Center will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The building is part of the College’s $185 million renovation and construction plan. Other new construction projects include a building for the School of Business, a new Information Commons, a new Children’s Center, renovations of academic buildings and research laboratories, expansion and enhancement of athletic facilities, and reconfiguration of roadways.
The Campus Center was constructed by J. Kokolakis Contracting Inc. of Bohemia. The building was designed by Kevin Hom, Hom + Goldman Architects.
