Binghamton University awarded $60M to construct lecture hall, classroom building

VESTAL, N.Y. — The State University of New York Construction Fund (SUCF) has awarded Binghamton University $60 million for the design and construction of a new lecture hall and classroom facility on campus.

The building will not replace the current lecture hall but will add to lecture and classroom space on campus, the school said in a Dec. 7 announcement.

“This new building will serve as a hub for students to take classes and study in the Information Commons,” Harvey Stenger, president of Binghamton University, said. “It will help meet current and future demand for our largest classes, and provide space for more classes at convenient times for faculty and students.”

To be built across from Academic A and adjacent to lot M, the building will include one 300-seat lecture hall; one-180 seat lecture hall; one 100-seat active-learning classroom; two learning studios; 23 general-purpose classrooms in sizes varying from 20 to 75 seats; three computer classrooms; and an “Information Commons,” Binghamton University said.

“There is high demand for additional large lecture hall spaces on campus,” Donald Hall, the school’s executive VP for academic affairs and provost, said. “Our current rooms are utilized continuously throughout the day, often requiring classes to be split into multiple sections. And when these rooms are not being used for classes, they tend to be heavily scheduled for events by academic departments and student groups.”

With student enrollment up more than 20 percent over the past decade, and the constant need to upgrade technology in learning spaces, the new lecture hall and classroom building will help meet demand, Binghamton University contends.

Since the 2017-18 fiscal year, Binghamton says it has benefited from more than $220 million for capital improvements for projects. They’ve included the Pharmacy R&D Building in Johnson City; Science 2 Tower; Science 4 Phase II; Baseball Clubhouse, Phase I; the Charlene and Roger Kramer Welcome Center; Bartle Library third-floor renovation; and the recently approved Science 3, phase I renovation. 

Additionally, crews have completed several infrastructure and capital-renewal projects on campus totaling more than
$15 million, Binghamton University said.