SUNYIT breaks ground for $20 million field house

Submitted by John Swann, Director of Public Relations & Communications

(Marcy, NY) State legislators and other dignitaries gathered with faculty, staff and students Oct. 23 to break ground for SUNYIT’s $20 million field house, the second of four major building projects planned on its campus in Marcy. NYS Senator Joseph Griffo, Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito and other officials joined SUNYIT President Wolf Yeigh and a large crowd including members of several SUNYIT athletic teams at the event.

“We’re pleased that so many people turned out to witness another important step forward for SUNYIT,” Yeigh said. “Special thanks to our elected officials, especially Assemblywoman Destito and Senator Griffo whose support has made this project a reality.”

Work on the field house construction site is underway not far from the $13.6 million student center project taking shape near Donovan Hall. Officials said investment in infrastructure at the area’s four-year public college is critically important for future regional workforce development, especially given the current state of the economy. They also said money for capital projects is approved separately from operating budgets for SUNY campuses, and capital money cannot be spent for other purposes.

Funding for the field house was authorized in the state’s 2006-07 capital budget while money for the student center was part of the 2005-06 capital budget.

The field house will be home to SUNYIT’s Wildcat intercollegiate athletics and campus intramural and recreation programs. With seating for 3,500, the building will accommodate commencement and other large events. It will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor running/walking track, sports training facilities, a high-tech sports medicine/training room, and team locker rooms. Also part of the construction project are a new, lighted turf field, new baseball field, and improvements to the existing softball field.

Both the field house and student center are scheduled to be completed and in use in the 2011 spring semester. The other two buildings planned in the next few years are a $27.5 million advanced technology center and a $23.5 million residence hall.

SUNYIT breaks ground for $20 million field house

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