Work Begins on Major Addition and Renovations to Sullivan Campus Center

Medaille first constructed a campus center for its students in 1995. In 2001 the building was dedicated in memory of Kevin I. Sullivan, the college’s fourth president. Prior to serving as president, Sullivan was a member of Medaille’s board of trustees, serving the College from 1977 to 1984. In 1987, he was selected as president and held that role for fifteen years until his untimely passing in 2001. Prior to his time at Medaille, he had worked in the banking industry in Buffalo for nearly 30 years, serving as vice chair and president of Key Bank of Western New York. As president, Sullivan oversaw a period of extensive growth, from the start of a residence life program and intercollegiate athletic teams to the expansion of adult and graduate programs.

The expanded facility will include:

• a large multipurpose/campus event center with a seating capacity of over 600 people;
• a new 3,000 square-foot fitness center;
• four new locker rooms, two for home teams and two for away teams;
• an enhanced athletic training room;
• an expanded campus bookstore;
• a reconfigured student affairs suite with dedicated student group meeting and workroom spaces;
• new student lounge space;
• a redesigned athletic office suite;
• a new late-night snack and food shop;
• a reconfigured gymnasium with increased seating capacity;
• and, the President’s Room, which serves as a special event and entertainment suite venue overlooking the multipurpose center and gymnasium.

Members of the board of trustees in attendance included Robert Graber, Ellen Grant, Ph.D., Juanita Hunter, Ed.D., Marge Kafka, Charles E. Moran, Darius Pridgen, Michael Walsh and Joseph Wolfson. Paul Dueringer also attended as a representative of the Alumni Association.

Following an introduction from John P. Crawford, vice president of college relations, Charles Moran addressed the crowd as the chair of the board of trustees, noting "We recognize how important the on-campus experience is for students.”

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown continued on that theme, speaking of how he remembered Kevin I. Sullivan and his commitment to expanding services for students, and congratulating Medaille on "what [it] is doing to develop the leaders of our future … and encouraging students to stay in Buffalo.”

New York State Senator Mark Grisanti presented a proclamation on behalf of New York State, and shared, "It’s always a good day in Buffalo when you see growth like this.”

Following additional remarks by Virginia Sullivan, wife of Kevin I. Sullivan, Jessica Newcombe, SGA president, and Medaille President Richard T. Jurasek, Ph.D., the speakers and representatives from the construction partners officially broke ground on the construction, which is slated for completion for the start of the College’s fall 2012 semester.

The $5.5 million project is funded in part by a $12 million financing package from M&T Bank and through the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, which also supported to the construction of the college’s Student Success Center, a building completed in September 2011. A significant portion of the project is also funded by a Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) grant of nearly $1 million.

The project team is led by the architect of record Chaintreuil, Jensen & Stark Architects, LLP, and construction manager R&P Oak Hill Development, LLC. IBC Engineering, P.C., is handling the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering. Tredo Engineers is in charge of the civil and structural engineering.