Stony Brook’s main campus has recently undergone, and is still undergoing many changes in appearance. This includes the landscaping and greenery, the fountains, and the overall appearance of the campus, especially in the area of Academic Mall.
Sprucing up the campus was perhaps a very good move on the university’s part. In 2006, Stony Brook saw its largest full-time enrollment of new freshman: 2,709 students. This was an increase of approximately 8.4% from the previous year and an all time high for Stony Brook. Undoubtedly, appearance is a key factor when it comes to choosing a college, and the renovations made to campus could have influenced many of 2006’s freshmen’s choice for Stony Brook.
‘I like how there’s a constant push for newness [at Stony Brook]’hellip;they’re constantly building things and renovating,’ said Randy Tai, fall 2007 freshman.
Some students, however, are not as enthusiastic about the campus’ cosmetic makeover.
Zackary Kurtz, a junior this Fall 2007, stated, ‘It’s nice that the university cares about making our campus more aesthetically pleasing but it is the quality of the academics that draw students more than the quality of the shrubbery.’ The fact that there are students that have to wait several semesters to get placed into an organic chemistry lab due to lack of space and resources while the Javits plaza gets a makeover tells you a lot about the school priorities.’
While other students may or may not share the same opinion,’ at least some may find solace in the fact that Stony Brook’s most recent construction update has many projects planned for the near future that fall under ‘internal renovation.’
Plans for the rehabilitation of laboratories in Chemistry, Life Sciences and Health Sciences Center, the renovation of three residence halls and space for a Student Center at Stony Brook Southampton, as well as an addition to the Math tower on the main campus are on the horizon. The Avram Theater at SB Southampton is also being refurbished and is expected to reopen in Summer 2008.
In the coming years, students can look forward to the construction of four buildings focusing on scientific research: the ‘Star Center’, where research will focus on biomedicine, the ‘Computation Neurosciences Building’, the ‘Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center’, and ‘CEWIT’, a state of the art center (to be completed by Fall 2008) that will focus on wireless and IT technologies.
Also, on the main campus, a new residence hall is scheduled to open in Spring 2008 and a new residence hall complex is scheduled to open for Fall 2009. Plans are also being put in place for a Student Recreation Center that would include a gymnasium, a multi-purpose indoor arena, office space and facilities for dance and aerobics as well free weights and cardio machines.
With the upcoming building and construction, Stony Brook will be able to look forward to considerable expansion in the fields of medical science and information technology. Students will also benefit from the increase in research facilities.
The new residence hall complex will also allow the university to accommodate more students in a more comfortable setting and maybe we would see an end to tripling.
The total approximate budget for the construction of CEWIT, the Star Center, the C.N. Building, the A.E.R.T. Center and the new residence hall and complex is an $205 M. However, the benefits that these facilities will provide make the $205 M money well spent.
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