Seward Secures Suny Cortland Building Aid

The legislative budget agreement includes $20 million for renovations to SUNY Cortland’s Bowers Hall Science Building, Senator James L. Seward announced today.

The funding in the SUNY capital budget will pay for the rehabilitatation of two wings of the 140,000 square foot building, which houses the biology, chemistry, geology and physics departments. It was constructed in the 1960s.

"Setting aside money for improvements to SUNY Cortland is an investment in the college’s future, its attractiveness to prospective students, its academic standing and the lives of present and future students," Senator Seward said. "As a member of the Senate Higher Education Committee, I am keenly aware of the need for ongoing refurbishment of the facilities on our SUNY campuses, and Cortland’s Bowers Hall certainly needs the upgrade. I am glad we could secure the funding in the state budget."

Seward is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which helps assigns funding in the budget.
Improvements will include new electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems to improve energy efficiency; exterior facing and foundation work; window and elevator replacements; improved lighting in classrooms and labs; retiling of floors and insulation of the building. Lecture halls, faculty offices, classrooms and labs will be upgraded. Lab equipment will also be replaced.

Seward visited the campus in November and met with college administration and faculty. He has represented SUNY Cortland since 1987, and has helped steer state funding to the campus in the past.

"We are grateful for the support you have so steadfastly shown on behalf of SUNY Cortland," President Erik J. Bitterbaum wrote to Seward.
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