The Daily Bulletin Archive

During the fall semester, the Buffalo State College campus will continue to undergo many significant construction projects. Some of the most visible changes are taking place in the Campbell Student Union, Cassety Hall, and the Caudell Hall Annex.

Construction crews are expected to complete Phase I of the Union’s $7.3 million renovation by January 2008, bringing a retail food court to the main lobby, coffee and juice bar to the upper lobby, and wireless café in the nearby lower level. The new food court will offer a variety of choices, serving American, Asian, Mexican, and other cuisine.

Construction crews hope to complete updates to the Union’s exterior brickwork early in the fall semester. Faculty and staff will continue to see scaffolding near the entranceways until the work is finished. Phase II projects, slated to begin in early 2008, include the transformation of the Union’s upper level into a new residential dining area.

As construction continues in the fall, many food services in the Union will still be available, including Plaza Café, Plaza Corner Deli, Grill 155, and Starbucks Bakery. Food service provider Sodexho also will offer two “Café a la Carte” kiosks for added convenience. One will be located in Moore Complex and will be open during the evening hours. A second kiosk, whose location will be determined, will offer food during morning, afternoon, and evening hours. According to Bob Karski, retail operations manager for Sodexho, the kiosks will offer “grab and go” items such as sandwiches, salads, chips, bottled water, and soda. 

Cassety Hall will return to its roots as a dormitory in November. It opened as a residence hall in 1949 but most recently housed student organizations and a few faculty offices. According to Stan Medinac, associate vice president for facilities planning, the dorm-ready interior provided a cost-effective solution for much-needed additional housing. The entire cost of reconstruction is estimated at $2.9 million. Upon its reopening, Cassety Hall will accommodate nearly 150 students.

As a result of Cassety Hall’s transformation, student organization offices relocated to the fourth floor of the Campbell Student Union, and faculty moved into the new Caudell Hall Annex, near the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and parking lots U and T. The modular unit has an O-shaped floor plan and offers the same amenities as most other campus buildings, including 17 offices, a large classroom, a kitchenette, a copy center, Internet hookups, and air conditioning. Current occupants include members of the Fine Arts and Art History departments, the ROTC Program, Title III staff, and members of the Strategic Planning Office.

Most construction work will occur during the morning hours and last until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. Noise interruptions to surrounding buildings should be minimal. For more information or questions, please contact Steve Shaffer, manager of design and construction, Facilities Planning, ext. 6034.

Construction updates on the science and mathematics complex, the technology building, and the stadium project will appear in future issues of the Bulletin.