Press Releases

July 10, 1996
Southampton Graduate Campus TO BEGIN $7.2 MILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CREATING NEW CLASSROOM AND LABORATORY BUILDING, WPBX STUDIOS

Contacts:
Southampton Graduate Campus Jane Finalborgo: 516-287-8313
Long Island University Christopher T. Cory: 516-299-2642
New York State Dormitory Authority Regina Bulman: 518-475-3252

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The trustees of Long Island University have authorized the start of $7.2 million worth of construction at Southampton Graduate Campus this fall, creating a new laboratory and classroom building.

The 35,000-square-foot structure will contain three laboratories and six classrooms geared to the college's relatively small class size and tradition of intimate teaching. It also will include two technologically-equipped lecture halls, faculty offices, and state-of-the-art studios for WPBX FM, Long Island's public radio station.

For the last few years classroom space at the college has been at a premium because of the conversion of teaching space into computer labs and other facilities. The new building will strengthen all the college's graduate and undergraduate offerings by relieving pressure on teaching facilities throughout the institution, and will also enhance the college's celebrated Marine and Environmental Sciences program.

Funding Sources

The college's efforts to raise the necessary capital funds are being spearheaded by Chancellor Robert F. X. Sillerman's pledge last summer of $1 million and his challenge to the university?s board to match it with an additional $2 million. A large number of matching gifts have been received or pledged, and donors are now considering others.

While fundraising continues, $6 million of the initial construction funds will come from a $20 million bond offering the university will make late this summer under the authority of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. The trustees have earmarked $6 million of the $20 million for various projects set forth in the new Master Plan for Southampton Graduate Campus. A portion of the $6 million will be used to jump-start the new academic building; the balance will go toward other projects.

The Dormitory Authority approved the offering in principle at its June meeting and is expected to approve the detailed documents at its meeting in August. Additional segments of the bond revenue will be used for other projects on the University's C.W. Post and Brooklyn campuses.

The college hopes to break ground sometime during the fall term. Detailed planning for the building will continue in the meantime, and these plans will be presented to the Southampton Town Planning Board and other governmental agencies for their review.

"This construction will give Southampton Graduate Campus an academic building that matches the excellence of the institution's programs," said Sillerman. "After many, many years of investing in human capital -- scholarships and other financial aid for students and the professors who have helped our students do things like win 21 Fulbright scholarships -- it is wonderful to be going ahead with these much-needed facilities."

Solid Future

"The Chancellor?s gift and the matching gifts so far have given us a tremendous jump-start on updating this campus," said Timothy Bishop, Provost of the college. "The University made a commitment to the East End when it started Southampton Graduate Campus 33 years ago, and this new investment is a sign of the trustees? confidence in our programs and our ability to serve this area and the nation. It reflects the determination of the University?s administration and trustees to ensure the long-term stability of Southampton Graduate Campus and solidify its prospects for growth."

Naming opportunities are available to donors who wish to support the entire building and/or significant components of it including the planned new classrooms, the lecture halls, the laboratories in marine and environmental sciences, the faculty offices, and the WPBX studios.

Growth By Plan

The new building is the first step in fulfilling a master plan for redevelopment of the facilities at Southampton Graduate Campus that was produced last year by the architectural firm of Mitchell/Giurgola. As funds are raised, the college expects the academic building to be followed by a major new sports and recreation center, additional academic buildings and a new library.

This will be the first major construction at the college since 1985, when the campus added a laboratory at its marine science station and an art studio.