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June 28, 2023Siena College and Gilbane Building Company Celebrate Construction Kickoff with Groundblessing Ceremony
Work Begins on Nobel Hall Science Center Expansion; Construction to Be Completed In 2025
Siena College and Gilbane Building Company today jointly hosted a groundblessing ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on an expanded, state-of-the-art science complex at Nobel Hall. Father Mark Reamer, VP of Mission at Siena College, blessed water distributed over the site by the Shaker Road Fire Department.
Photos from Monday’s ceremony are attached. Pictured are the Shaker Road Fire Department distributing water over the site; rising junior Meghan Kelly (black top); Charles “Chuck” Seifert, Ph.D., Siena President (green shirt); and John Cummings, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Science (gray shirt).
The new science complex at Nobel Hall will feature 40,000 square feet of all-new specialized laboratories and active learning spaces across three floors when completed. For Siena, the transformative project is step toward its goal of becoming the region’s premier college for the hard sciences.
“Nobel Hall – with its 40,000 square feet of all-new specialized laboratories – will be key to unlocking Siena’s full potential in the sciences,” said Siena President Chuck Seifert, Ph.D. “Siena is already a regional leader in science education and the number one college in New York for job placement. With the addition of Nobel Hall and a renovation of our existing science complex, Siena will be well-positioned as a highly sought, in-demand destination for the sciences in the Northeast.”
The science center project includes a rooftop penthouse to house mechanical support systems as well as extensive site work, new and expanded utilities, an expanded parking area, and other improvements. Gilbane Building Company is leading the project’s construction.
“This is an incredibly exciting day as we celebrate the start of construction for Siena College’s new state-of-art science complex,” said John LaRow, Senior Vice President, Gilbane Building Company. “As a proud Siena alumnus, I look forward to our team realizing this expansion which promises to enhance science learning opportunities. We are eager to realize this transformational project for Siena, its students, faculty, administration, and the alumni community.”
In a later phase of construction, the project will also include renovations to Roger Bacon Hall. In total, the project – which is slated for completion by Spring 2025 – will directly impact more than 40 percent of the Siena College student body.
