Project underway to renovate SUNY Oswego’s Hewitt Hall for communications program

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Crews have started work on the $80 million project to renovate SUNY Oswego’s Hewitt Hall into a “state-of-the-art” home for Oswego’s School of Communication, Media and the Arts.

The school held an Oct. 1 groundbreaking ceremony that marked the official start of work on the SUNY Oswego’s former student union, per a university news release.

SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, state legislators, and construction and design firms were among those attending the ceremony.

The project will create a “nationally competitive hub” for the college’s broadcasting, design and cinema, and screen studies programs, SUNY Oswego contends.

Stanley opened the event by thanking project partners from the State University Construction Fund; DiPasquale Construction of Spencerport in Monroe County; Turner Construction, which is headquartered in New York City and has an office in Syracuse; and the Buffalo office of New York City–based CannonDesign, which is handling the design work on the project.

“As most of you know, this is my final capital project as president of SUNY Oswego,” Stanley said. “I am thrilled to see this transformative project moving forward today and for the generations of students, faculty and staff who will benefit from the new Hewitt Hall.”

Developed with input from students, faculty and other stakeholders, the renovated Hewitt Hall has a target completion date of fall 2023 to host classes, labs, events, and related activities. SUNY Oswego expects crews will complete exterior renovations in 2022.