Our Science Building is Multidisciplinary
• Departments currently in building:
– Biology
– Chemistry
– Earth Sciences and Science Education
– Physics
• Specialized Facilities :
– HIPERC
– Science Education Center
– Planetarium
– Small Animal Facilities
– Greenhouse
– Radioactive Materials Storage
– Volatile Chemical/ Gas Storage
• Other programs:
– Great Lakes Center
– Environmental Toxicology Labs
– Physical Geography labs
– McNair Program
– Upward Bound program
– New York State Health Department
• Potential additional occupants:
– Mathematics Department
• would allow for more meaningful interactions with the sciences
– Animal Behavior labs from
Psychology Department
• near small animal facilities that are shared with Biology
– Requires construction of additional space

The current state of our building- a brief tour…
1960’s “wedding cake design” Lobby is dark and uninviting
Long, dark, univiting hallways 1960’s style classrooms

Faculty offices are behind labs or other offices Teaching labs are in poor condition
Student Lounge
Student Lounge/Computer lab
Classroom redeployed as computer lab/club
30 years worth of wear and tear

The renovated science building must provide modern spaces that allow programs to offer a pedagogically sound, modern learning experience for the next 25-30 years
• Spaces must accommodate both traditional methods and new pedagogies for teaching math and science

BSC Science Building needs modern ventilation/hood systems to support teaching science and doing research
• Modern chemistry instructional labs require one hood per student and clear lines of sight
• Molecular Biology and Anatomy labs need good ventilation
• Geology/geochemistry often requires ventilation
Current Ventilation System in BSC Anatomy Lab

The Science Building requires air conditioning and climate control
• Many programs run all summer
– Faculty Research programs
– Undergraduate summer research
– Upward Bound
– Physics Alternative Certification
– Professional development programs
• Scientific instrumentation and computers often will not function above 78-85ºF
• Some instrumentation dumps heat into the space compounding the problem
• Building is currently too hot to grow yeast (requires 80ºF )
BSC Research lab retrofitted for summer research

Corridors in building should be comfortable and inviting
• Spaces with light and seating encourage students to spend time in the building
• Students who have a sense of belonging are more likely to be retained

Modern science buildings incorporate spaces that bring people together and encourage interdisciplinary activities
• An atrium brings people together
– Facilitates faculty-faculty, student-student, and faculty-student interactions
– Can serve as a forum for poster sessions, science and math open houses, etc.

Open stairways, clear site lines, and conversation nooks bring people together and encourage interdisciplinary activities

We need a building that gives Buffalo State Sciences a public face
• A facade that reflects the excellence in teaching and scholarship within
• An atrium can make a big impact both inside and outside the building

In contrast to what we currently have….
Lobby
Main Entrance

Building elements should advertise who we are
• Building artwork can:
– advertise our programs and research projects
– acknowledge our many community partnerships
• Great Lakes Consortium
• Zoo
• Science Museum
• Educational partnerships with the public schools
• Windows provide insight into how science is done

Consider the advantages of a State-of-the-art Planetarium
• would give Buffalo State Sciences a higher profile, public face
• would further strengthen our ties to the public schools
Dickenson Science Building Planetarium and Observatory
-separate entrance to serve public access needs

We invite you to visit the building and welcome your comments
FNSS Science Building Planning Committee:
Kim Bagley - Chemistry (Chair)
Don Birdd-Science Education
Lisa Brooks - Psychology
Mike DeMarco - Physics
Kim Irvine- Geography and Planning
Harish Sikka - Great Lakes Laboratory
Gary Solar - Earth Science
Greg Wadsworth- Biology
David Wilson - Mathematics
To arrange a visit call 878-5933