Construction Workforce Development Center
Major New Facility Planned for Wellsville Campus: Building Trades to get new home
Alfred State College's acclaimed Building Trades program needs a facility worthy of its reputation and large enough to house its comprehensive programs. As work gets started on beautifying and modernizing the School of Applied Technology campus in Wellsville, officials envision the new $4.1 million Construction Workforce Development Center to be the crown jewel of that effort.
The Building Trades Department has outgrown its existing facilities. For example, some building trade labs have been moved to the Campus Activity Center because of space constraints. The new facility, officials say, will allow the college to enhance its programs and increase the hands-on learning experience. The facility will also allow the college to house all of its building trades workshops and training sessions under one roof.
Alfred State's Building Trades program has built a sterling reputation. The program is an award winner, with carpentry students finishing first in national Skills USA competition in 2000 and masonry and carpentry students both finishing third in the nation in 1999. To ensure that students continue to succeed, bigger and better facilities are a must.
Alfred State and a coalition of the region's construction industry leaders are raising funds for the workforce development facility. They are not starting from scratch. The Educational Foundation of Alfred State College, which leases the campus property to the State University of New York, has committed $300,000 to the building project, which was designed by Mossien Associates. In addition, U.S. Rep. Randy Kuhl has secured $200,000 for the building from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The immediate need is $800,000 in private donations to secure $1.3 million to fund the construction of the facility's steel shell. Once that is in place, college officials believe the building will take much less than the estimated cost of $4.1 million to construct as students get involved in the project through live lab work and donations of services, materials and equipment pour in.
The college is accepting support of cash and securities for the new 30,000 square foot building. Conveniently, support can be pledged over a five-year period. Contributions of materials, equipment and services are also gratefully being accepted. The college is also open to a combination of cash and deferred contributions. The college is planning many ways to recognize the donors who support this exciting new building project. There will be naming opportunities available for the building, its classrooms and conference rooms and its labs. Donors will also be thanked and honored on a recognition plaque in the lobby of the facility. To support and contribute to the Construction Workforce Development Center, please use our online giving form or contact Tom Murphy at murphytg [at] alfredstate [dot] edu or (607) 587-4229.
Working together - the college, the building trades industry, and the community- this crucial new academic facility can become a reality. There is no doubt that a state of- the-art construction training center will be a huge catalyst for economic growth in the Southern Tier and Western New York. A donation to the project is a down payment on a brighter economic future for the region.