New York Construction Report staff writer
The final steel beam has been placed atop the Engineering and Computer Science Initiative (ECSI) building at Union College in Schenectady, featuring signatures from students, faculty and staff in a tradition that celebrates the collaboration behind the project’s construction.
The topping-off milestone marks a key step in the $60-million expansion, which will significantly increase engineering and computer science space on campus and is scheduled to open in fall 2027.
The architects for the project are Payette Architects of Boston. LeChase Construction of Schenectady is the construction manager.
The state-of-the-art facility will include advanced research laboratories, modernized teaching spaces and expanded areas for student collaboration as part of a broader effort to support growing academic programs in engineering and computer science.
The project also includes renovations to Butterfield Hall and other existing spaces as part of Union’s broader Engineering and Computer Science Initiative.
“Such an exciting milestone! LeChase is so proud to partner with Union College and be part of bringing the new Engineering and Computer Science Initiative Building to campus,” the company said in a social media statement. “The new facility will provide much-needed office, research, teaching and student spaces to support the college’s growing engineering and computer science programs.”
The new three-storey, 30,500-sq. ft. building is being constructed in the courtyard adjacent to Olin, Wold and the Integrated Science and Engineering Complex, and will physically connect to the existing complex to create a more integrated science and engineering hub.
The first floor will include three classrooms, a 3D printing lab and collaborative student spaces. Upper floors will house teaching labs for civil, environmental and biomedical engineering, as well as faculty research labs and student gathering areas.
An additional 10,700 sq. ft. of programmable basement space is also included in the design.
Funded entirely through private donations, the expansion is intended to strengthen Union College’s capacity in high-demand technical fields while supporting interdisciplinary learning and research.
