SUCF and
University at Albany

COLLEGE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

SUCF and University at Albany

COLLEGE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Acting on a vision for a catalyzed economy and a united community, the University at Albany saw an opportunity to transform the original 1912 Albany High School into a state-of-the-art College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering.

Redirected Entry Plaza and Expanded Lobby

To improve student accessibility and connect CNSE with UAlbany's downtown campus, the entry plaza and two-story lobby were purposefully relocated to the southeast side of the building facing inward toward campus.

Maker/Tinker Space

The maker/tinker space replaces the existing high school gymnasium and features 3D printing technology, metal fabricators, an adjacent wood shop, and small collaborative spaces to support design through fabrication.

Multi-Use Classroom Lab

Situated off the main lobby is a new multi-purpose classroom space. Foldable glass wall panels can easily reconfigure the space to flow into the main lobby for larger events and seminars.

Specialized Classrooms and Research Laboratories

Classroom space and a new computational research laboratory provide high-powered technology to conduct cutting-edge research and support specialized science and technology instruction.

Building Systems

The CNSE building is served by a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) consisting of two parallel air handling systems and blower coils. The DOAS system is supported by the building's central heating and cooling plants to maximize energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, University at Albany held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the south wing renovation of CNSE and welcome students and faculty back to the building for the first time in over a decade.

Final Project Phase

The final phase of the project will renovate the north wing of the building to create similar spaces for teaching and research. The restoration of the building’s historic, 11,000 square foot, three-level auditorium will provide seating for nearly 1,000 students.

Project Scope

With CSArch as a partner, UAlbany is undergoing its most significant investment in midtown since the downtown campus was completed in 1929. The century-old, 129,000 sf former Albany High School is receiving full programming, design, and construction administration services to strengthen the region's only public research university and align its mission with the immediate community that supports it.

Encompassing $80.1 million in renovations, the project will expand the size of UAlbany's downtown campus by about 40 percent and serve more than 1,000 students and faculty.

Once completed, the new home for the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering will provide state-of-the-art educational and research spaces that advance workforce development in downtown Albany and the greater Capital Region.

Location

Albany, NY

Size

129,000 SF

Completion Date

South Wing: May 2024

North Wing and Auditorium: 2027

Program

Academic Classrooms, Research Laboratories, Computer Laboratories, Auditorium Upgrades, Safety and Infrastructure, Faculty and Administrative Offices