New ACC building takes shape Queensbury

Tag : Construction Building Materials
The bricks and mortar are just the beginning.

Adirondack Community College officials are hoping their new highereducation center building, under construction on the north end ofcampus, will be a catalyst for more relationships with four-yearcolleges and provide a boost to local enrollment.
Construction of the newest addition to the ACC campus, a one-storyclassroom and office building, is expected to be finished byOctober, college officials said during a tour of the facility with Post-Star editors Friday afternoon.

The building, officially known as the J. Buckley Bryan Jr. ACC '87,'94 Regional Higher Education Center, will provide classrooms andoffices for four-year colleges that offer courses on the ACCcampus.
The facility, which is about 80 percent complete, is probably a fewweeks away from resembling a setting for education. The walls mustbe painted. Wires dangle from the open ceiling. The floors aredusty and covered with tools and materials. Power has yet to beinstalled.

The building will feature seven classrooms, wireless Internet and ageothermal heating-and-cooling system that won't require installingelectric or gas boilers.

The two entrances are made of glass, and more glass was added alongcertain corridors and a lounge area for increased natural lighting.

At 19,000 square feet, the building is near the size of an icerink.

It could be open by late this year or early 2009.

College officials expect the $7.5 million building will generateenough revenue to pay for regular operation, as well as provide areserve fund for future maintenance expenses. Plattsburgh StateCollege and Empire State College will pay ACC for using thefacility.
The building is an important addition to the campus because itallows ACC to team up with other four-year colleges, leading tomore options for diplomas for area residents.

College officials are talking with Paul Smith's College and theyare close to an agreement, said ACC President Ronald Heacock.

Heacock said he also wants ACC to team up with colleges from theAlbany area.

By offering more four-year courses, local students can obtainbachelor's degrees at the ACC campus without traveling to distantplaces like Albany.

College officials expect more people will be interested in takingfour-year courses at ACC as time moves on and gas prices continueto rise.
"Once we demonstrate that the model works ... you will see otherpeople say, 'That's a great idea,' " Heacock said during Friday'stour.

Another classroom wing can be added to the building if there's ademand for more space and the college receives funding for theexpansion.

For years, college officials have envisioned a building forfour-year courses. But funding it became an obstacle.

Donations and state funds will pay for most of the building. Thecollege's foundation is raising money through a campaign that sofar has generated large donations.

The building is named after J. Buckley Bryan, an ACC graduate whodonated $1 million for the project.
Other major gifts came from Stewart's Shops ($100,000), Mike andJeanAnn Dennis of Northumberland ($100,000), and Monty and Amy Liuof Queensbury ($50,000).

"We have had some very good contacts, some very good responses,"said Joseph Cutshall-King, executive director of the ACCFoundation.

At the moment, no other community college in New York state has afacility like the regional higher education center.

But other colleges in areas that lack a four-year school arepursuing the idea.

"I think you are going to see a lot of colleges do this as well,"Heacock said.