New York Construction Report staff writer
Farmingdale State College has broken ground on its new Computer Sciences Center, a $75 million project that will support growing demand for computer and information science programs and strengthen Long Island’s role in New York’s tech economy.
“This project creates construction jobs now and opens the door to high-skill, high-paying jobs in the future,” said Kevin Law, Chairman of the Empire State Development Board. “That’s a win for the entire region.”
Urbahn Architects designed the project. A spokesperson says the general contractor has not yet been selected. The construction management team is Triton Construction and Elite Construction of NY, the spokesperson wrote in a May 19 email to New York Construction News.
“So much more than a building, the center will provide a hub of advanced technology education and programming, enabling interdisciplinary and collaborative innovation, research, and learning,” said President of Farmingdale State College Robert S. Prezant. “It will also allow us to support increasing enrollment in our technology programs with a focus on workforce development.”
The project is funded by $30 million from Empire State Development’s Long Island Investment Fund and $45 million in capital funding from SUNY. Once completed, the 52,000-square-foot facility will include state-of-the-art classrooms, computer labs, seminar rooms, and collaborative spaces for partnerships with industry.
It’s Farmingdale’s first Zero Net Carbon Ready facility and comes at a time when enrollment in its tech programs has grown by 40% in the last five years.
“This is a major step forward for Long Island’s tech sector,” said Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight. “The center will connect students with real-world industry needs, helping to build a stronger, more competitive workforce.”
Once completed, the Computer Sciences Center will help meet the growing need for skilled workers in computer science and information technology. The building will serve as a modern learning environment and a point of connection between students and local employers.
“This center will help shape the next generation of tech talent,” said Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer. “It’s a forward-looking project that strengthens our position as a leader in innovation and education.”
Construction is now underway, with the project expected to significantly boost Farmingdale’s ability to serve students and meet the state’s STEM workforce needs.