University at Albany and DASNY Announce Completion of $46.9 Million Residence Hall Project
Project Includes Extensive Renovations to Paine and Zenger Halls Incorporating Sustainable Elements, Modern Bedroom Suites, and the new Colonial Wellness Center
View Ribbon Cutting and Project Photos Here
ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 26, 2024) – The University at Albany and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) announced the completion of a major $46.9 million gut renovation of Paine and Zenger Residence Halls on Colonial Quad, which opened last week to students for the fall semester. The renovation also included the transformation of the former dining hall into the Colonial Wellness Center, a new recreation and wellness center, which has been nicknamed The Well.
The University held a ribbon-cutting and open house on Monday afternoon to celebrate the completion of the project. UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez was joined by DASNY Vice President Charlie Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Michael Christakis and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Health and Well-being Joyce DeWitt-Parker. Following remarks, The Well held an open house with programs and activities for students, faculty and staff.
“The opening of renovated residence halls on Colonial Quad and the new Colonial Wellness Center will be transformative for the University at Albany campus. As a Health Promoting University, we are committed to taking a holistic approach to health and wellness on our campus. ‘The Well’ is much more than a gym, it is a manifestation of that commitment, with group exercise classes, spaces for mindfulness activities like yoga and meditation, classrooms for educational programming, and many more programs and services that will help our community thrive on campus. We are grateful to DASNY for their support of this project and bringing our vision to life,” said Havidán Rodríguez, president of the University at Albany.
The 82,000-square-foot renovation features attractive new living spaces for 173 students with new windows, air conditioning, lighting and energy improvements, along with reconstruction of interior spaces, new furniture and other modern updates. The first floor houses a multi-purpose center for Colonial Quad, an apartment for the quad director and enhanced accessibility suites. The upper floors feature contemporary student suites, along with study and laundry rooms.
The renovation also transformed the former Colonial Quad dining and kitchen facilities into The Well, which includes amenities to support the health and fitness of students, faculty and staff, including:
- a cycling studio
- functional fitness suite
- mind/body room
- large wood floor group exercise studio
- combative mat room
- wellness suite
- cardio space
The University’s Department of Recreation and Wellness is also located in the building.
“DASNY is proud to partner with SUNY and deliver truly exceptional facilities,” said DASNY President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez. “Our design and construction teams are at the forefront of creating spaces to empower students and help them achieve academic success. DASNY is pleased to be a part of such a forward-thinking project.”
As a Health Promoting University, UAlbany has established itself as an institution committed to health and sustainability and strengthening the overall well-being of its community. The University was among the first cohort of higher education institutions in the United States to adopt the Okanagan Charter in 2021. (The University will also host this year’s Okanagan Summit conference in October – details available here.)
Since adopting the charter, the University has continued to build on programs and services that support the physical and mental well-being of the campus community. Recently, the institution implemented a health navigator program, which directs students to resources and support available through the Department of Health Promotion, including:
- well-being appointments
- survivor support and advocacy
- recovery support
- wellness coaching
- safer sex and harm reduction resources
- self-assessments (screenings) for alcohol and cannabis use
“To be successful our students must be able to strengthen both their mind and body. With beautiful new spaces and dedicated staff, UAlbany's new Colonial Wellness Center has something for everyone and is the embodiment of our vision as a Health Promoting University. Thank you to DASNY and everyone at UAlbany who made this exciting project a reality, one which advances the health and well-being of our campus community," said Michael Christakis, vice president for student affairs and enrollment.
The Colonial Quad project was constructed to LEED Gold standards under the sustainability and energy efficiency guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council while respecting the original mid-century modern architecture of Edward D. Stone. LEED elements include new windows, heating, cooling and ventilation systems, water-saving plumbing fixtures, energy-saving LED lighting in hallways and student rooms, and other modern upgrades. In addition, the project utilized low-VOC paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives and flooring to protect indoor air quality.
Page Architecture and Planning handled the project design, while LeChase Construction Services served as the general contractor. The project employed a design-bid-build delivery method.
The project is part of approximately $126 million in capital renovation projects DASNY is completing on SUNY campuses statewide.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $55.8 billion as of March 31, 2024. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $12 billion as of March 31, 2024. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
About the University at Albany
The University at Albany is one of the most diverse public research institutions in the nation and a national leader in educational equity and social mobility. As a Carnegie-classified R1 institution, UAlbany and its faculty and students are creating critical new knowledge in fields such as artificial intelligence, atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, education, public health, social sciences, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering, informatics, public administration and social welfare. Our courses are taught by an accomplished roster of faculty experts with student success at the center of everything we do. Through our parallel commitments to academic excellence, scientific discovery and service to community, UAlbany molds bright, curious and engaged leaders and launches great careers.
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