At a glance
Attending the groundbreaking were representatives of elected officials, faculty and staff, students, and local government and community leaders.
Alfred State broke ground on its new Advanced Manufacturing Center on the School of Applied Technology campus in Wellsville Wednesday afternoon.
The center will be used to educate welding technology and machine tool technology students in state-of-the-art sustainable practices in advanced manufacturing through efficient processes. Other uses for the facility include prototyping and assisting manufacturers in the development of new products and systems. Machine tool technology, welding, and drafting/CAD are the three areas of study within the Computerized Design and Manufacturing Department.
Attending the groundbreaking were representatives of elected officials, faculty and staff, students, and local government and community leaders. Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan, the first speaker of the event, said the facility will keep the Wellsville campus, and the college in general, at the cutting edge of technology, with a focus on sustainability.
“Great things are ahead for Alfred State and many things have been changing on this campus lately,” he said, “but let me assure you, without reservation, that as far as Alfred State is concerned, the best is yet to come.”
The building will house freshman and senior welding students and senior machine tool technology students, and includes classrooms, a computer lab, a welding fabrication shop, material handling and preparation space, a CNC machine shop, and metrology and inspection space. It is expected to be in use by the fall 2016 semester, Sullivan said.
Speaking on behalf of elected officials were Julie Schmidt, district coordinator for State Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, and Lori Cornell, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s regional representative for Southwestern New York.
“Today’s groundbreaking serves as a reminder of how important manufacturing is, not only to our immediate area, but to New York State as a whole,” Schmidt said on Young’s behalf. “Together, we will continue to develop new and innovative technology and manufacturing systems that will help stimulate and grow our economy and pave the way for our future generations.”
Reading aloud the governor’s message, Cornell said, “This welcome addition to your dynamic campus will continue to inspire future generations to realize their unique potential and to attain their lifelong goals.”
The $5 million, 16,500-square-foot center is part of the $15 million “Retooling the Southern Tier” SUNY 2020 project. Empire State Development also awarded Alfred State a $500,000 grant for equipment for the center in 2013 through the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC) process.
Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony comes four months after the Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc. signed a contract that leases land on the School of Applied Technology campus designated for the center to the State University of New York (SUNY) for 30 years. This move was required to allow the SUNY 2020 funds to be used to construct the building, according to Dr. Craig Clark, executive director and dean of the School of Applied Technology. The college currently rents the Wellsville campus from the Educational Foundation and the center is the first state-funded building on that campus since it opened in 1966.
Since the 1990s, Dresser-Rand in Wellsville has provided space for senior welding and senior machine tool programs. While the company has been a great host, the college’s goal has always been to move these programs onto the Wellsville campus, and the SUNY 2020 grant made that possible, according to Clark.
The fourth speaker at the ceremony was Steven D. Fernaays, architect and senior associate for SWBR Architects, whose team designed an efficient building envelope that will minimize energy usage.
“Overall, we feel, and we hope you do also, that this building will greatly enhance the student experience,” he said. “It will assist the faculty in preparing the students for the real world and will be something for all to be proud of for many years to come, as it will help students successfully transition from academia to industry.”
The final speaker was Fred Thompson, vice president of LeChase Construction, the general contractor of the project. He mentioned that LeChase has worked on dozens of projects on both Alfred State campuses for decades and has employed more than 60 of the college’s graduates over a six-decade span, including himself and Bill Goodrich, the company’s president and CEO.
“I would like to thank the State University Construction Fund and Alfred State for once again entrusting LeChase Construction with one of your esteemed projects,” he said. “I look forward to standing here with all of you in the near future upon its successful completion.”
Pictured here at the groundbreaking of Alfred State’s new Advanced Manufacturing Center, from left to right, are Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc. President Julie Hart; Allegany County Board of Legislators Chairman Curt Crandall; Allegany County Legislator Dwight Fanton, R-Wellsville; Allegany County Legislator David Decker, R-Cuba; Vice President of LeChase Construction Fred Thompson; Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steven Havey; Allegany County Chamber of Commerce and Office of Tourism Executive Director Gretchen Hanchett; Julie Schmidt, district coordinator for State Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean; Wendy Brand, representative for Assemblyman Joe Giglio, R-Gowanda; Architect and Senior Associate of SWBR Architects Steven D. Fernaays; Lori Cornell, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s regional representative for Southwestern New York; and Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan.