Alfred State officially opens Doc Bruce Lab

Alfred State celebrated the official opening of the Doc Bruce Construction Materials Laboratory in the Engineering Technology Building. The state-of-the-art lab will support students in the civil engineering technology department along with helping develop a new industry workforce.

Watch the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
View the photo gallery from the event
See the new lab

The new lab focuses on laboratory and field testing of construction materials, including soils, concrete, and asphalt. Students are prepared and test to become American Concrete Institute, Technician Grade I, and are prepared to move on to NYS Asphalt Technician Training as they are familiar with different aggregates and soils in their first year. Bruce’s former students and industry leaders – Jimmy Smith ’77, president of Advance Testing Company, and Gary Hill ’77, president of Union Concrete Construction Corporation, led the campaign.

For more than two decades, William “Doc” Bruce, DE, PE, was a beloved mentor for Pioneer students. He was the initial advisor to the Alfred State chapter of Association of General Contractors (AGC) and was instrumental in obtaining grants to build the labs that students like Hill and Smith learned in. 

“Our involvement with Doc Bruce and the AGC student chapter led to so many opportunities,” commented Hill. “I always say that Doc Bruce was into networking before there was even the term networking. We used to go on site visits, whether it be down to a parking ramp in Elmira or a National Asphalt Paving Association meeting in Baltimore. All that networking taught many of our classmates how to interact with the industry.”

Smith echoed many of Hill’s thoughts. “Doc Bruce was always concerned about our careers. He wanted to make sure we were placed in the right job for our personalities. It is forty plus years later and we raised the money and built a beautiful facility dedicated to him. I cannot thank you all enough for your support. We look forward to showcasing the facility.”

“These (people – Jimmy and Gary) are legends of the institution and what they did allowed us to continue to cultivate that,” commented Alfred State President Dr. Steven Mauro. “That mentality still rings very true today to the legend of what Doc Bruce created. We are going to spend the time on students so that they can succeed in the real world. This is what we are all about at Alfred State and that is the kind of legacy that Doc Bruce created.”

Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Craig Clark is part of Doc Bruce’s legacy. Clark was hired by Bruce and spoke of how his colleague connected students with industry. “His connection with the industry was amazing. He would take people on field trips all over. He wanted to make sure the students got outside the lab and experienced what the real world was like. He spent extra time with students. He was not just a faculty member but a true advisor.”

Clark, who recently spoke to the family of Doc Bruce, conveyed how much the family was pleased that the laboratory was built to honor William’s dedication to his students.

Vice President of Institutional Advancement Danielle White provided the audience background on the fundraising effort which was part of the college’s Major Gift Campaign that raised $9.2 million dollars. “To honor Doc Bruce and enhance the student’s education they (Jimmy and Gary) came up with the idea for this campaign to renovate the construction materials laboratory and name it on behalf of their beloved professor. They both pledged $100,000 to this project. They also had us travel all over to different industry events and introduced us to so many incredible people and companies. We want to thank them both for their endless effort and support of this program and the college.”

Smith and Hill along with their companies, provided leadership and spearheaded the campaign but countless other industry supporters of Alfred State and Doc Bruce joined the efforts at a bronze level or higher to make the vision a reality. 
•    The Peckham Family Foundation, Balfour Beatty Construction, Inc., National Fuel Gas Company Foundation, Associated General Contractors, CATCO, CIC of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc., Cold Spring Construction Co., D.A. Collins Construction Co., Inc., Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc., American Concrete Institute - Western NY, Barre Stone Products, Inc., BVR Construction Company, Inc., County Line Stone Co., Inc., Dolomite Products Co., Inc., Lancaster Development Inc., New York Construction Materials Association, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Bothar Construction, LLC, Construction Exchange of Buffalo & Western NY, Jamestown Macadam, Inc., New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., New York Construction Materials Association - Asphalt Council, New York Construction Materials Association - Concrete Council, Thalle Industries, and The Pike Company.

White continued, “We are so thankful for all the industry and individual support for this project. The vision would not have become a reality without the help of so many.”

Students have already started to use the new machines and tools in the lab in their coursework. The lab is one of the main sites in the state that offers New York State Construction Material Association QC/QA Asphalt certifications. Alfred State has been offering this certification since 1996.

Additional Quotes from the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:
“Alfred State graduates will continue to be recognized for their competence and skills as a direct result of the abilities provided by this lab. Industry will also continue to find a capable partner as we produce the Future Leaders of the industry and explore some of the exciting new technologies.”

-    John William, Dean of the School of Architecture, Management & Engineering Technology

“Thank you, Gary, and Jimmy. We could not have raised the money to do this without you and your support.”

-    Erin Vitale, Department Chair and Professor in the Civil Engineering Technology Department