State-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces

The first new academic building on campus in nearly 20 years, the hall provides innovative learning spaces, including state-of-the-art laboratories, lecture halls and other collaborative spaces designed for the teaching, learning and research needs of students and faculty. Science Hall is home to offices for the Dean of Science & Engineering, Computer Science, Geology, Physics and Astronomy, Geography, and the AC2 program, which supports students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing degrees in STEM disciplines at New Paltz.

The Design

As a gateway to the campus and recognizable first impression for visitors, Science Hall is designed with a slate exterior that pays homage to the rooftops of Historic Huguenot homes built here in the 17th and 18th centuries. The floor of the lobby is inlaid with fossils from archeological sites in Wyoming’s Green River Formation, which date back a bit further than the Huguenots: about 50 million years. The building is constructed to LEED Silver Certification standards for sustainable design and construction from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Ribbon Cutting

College students, faculty and staff were joined by New York State Senator John J. Bonacic, State Assemblymember Kevin A. Cahill ’77, project architects and contractors and SUNY Construction Fund representatives to formally open the doors to the new building on March 9. Funding for the $48 million project was secured with support from Senator Bonacic and Assemblymember Cahill.