Farmingdale State College, the once quiet, tiny educational institution that specialized in animal husbandry programs, continued on an expansion spree, recently opening a 50,000-square-foot, $25 million Campus Center that boasts a cafeteria, bookstore and lecture hall.
The new building was unveiled Feb. 1.
One of the benefits for students in the new building, which also including a food court and coffee shop, is that it brings many of the general amenities into a central facility. Previously, students would have to transit across campus to separate buildings for each service. The building also hosts a student lounge, conference rooms, and student information desk, and a ticket counter for student activities.
In keeping with the college’s legacy of environmental sustainability, the Campus Center has a roof constructed of energy-efficient materials. The ballroom, which will be revealed soon, will have a capacity of 400 people, for lectures and events, and 220 for dinner-style seating. A special feature of the building is the oculus—a rounded skylight—in the lobby that provides a spacious and inviting atmosphere as well as lounges, which will help to ignite student-faculty interactions.
In between show rehearsals for the Backstage Theatre Troupe, the Farmingdale Observer recently found two Farmingdale State College students, Emily Aguayza and Christian Péan, hanging out near the coffee shop in the newly opened Campus Center.
Aguayza said during the first week that the center was opened to students, the main hallway was filled with video and pinball games, one amenity she said she wishes the college would consider keeping for the students. “People are really starting to stop in and check it out.
The building is part of the college’s $185 million renovation and construction plan. Other new construction projects include a building for the School of Business, a new Information Commons, a new Children’s Center, renovations of academic buildings and research laboratories, expansion and enhancement of athletic facilities, and reconfiguration of roadways. The Campus Center was constructed by J. Kokolakis Contracting Inc. of Bohemia. The building was designed by Kevin Hom, Hom + Goldman Architects.
