Founded by Franciscan friars in 1858, St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y., is mounting a $15 million campaign to cover the cost of its new Business Center.

The sum required includes $10 million for construction and endowments of $4 million for faculty and programmatic support and $1 million for building sustainability. To date, more than $14.1 million has been contributed to the campaign.

Officials from the university held a groundbreaking ceremony for the future William E. & Ann L. Swan Business Center in March 2012. The campaign received a $3 million donation from Ann Swan in memory of her husband, William. A notable New York philanthropist and banker, a 1969 alumnus of the university, and former chair of its Board of Trustees, Swan died in 2003.

The Southern Tier office of LeChase Construction Services, LLC, located in Corning, N.Y., is serving as general contractor for the project, for which construction began in May 2012, with an expected completion date in June 2013.

“Excavation for the foundations is under way and equipment utilized includes Komatsu PC200LC and Komatsu PC 78 US excavators, a Hamm 3205 roller, and a Volvo L90C loader. New Holland L785 and Gehl 6640 skid steers are also working on-site,” said Philip Winger, the university’s associate vice president of facilities.

The design of the Business Center includes cutting-edge technology, making it the “greenest” building on the 154-year-old campus. The Center will feature environmentally friendly features and sustainable design in line with what the university described as “a serious commitment to sustainability.”

As part of this commitment, Winger said, “The building will be cooled with groundwater, which is available at 52 degrees Fahrenheit and will directly cool air in air handlers, without any refrigeration.”

The Center’s 26,000-sq. ft. (2,415 sq m) space will include such business amenities as a boardroom and a laboratory featuring a ticker tape, as well as facilities for research and student work. Its construction will result in a new quadrangle between Plassmann Hall and Reilly Center, which the university anticipates will assist in fostering its sense of community.

Today's top stories

New Bridges Part of Iowa's $114M Madison Avenue Project

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

Fay Preps Way for Pittsburgh International Airport Modernization Project

SAKAI Achieves Record Sales, Production

Takeuchi Recognizes Top Dealers at 2024 Dealer Summit

Muddy Water Dredging Christens Marlin Class Dredge

Indiana Officials Mark Start of 2024 Construction Season, Promote Safety

Leica Geosystems Launches its First Machine Smart Antenna — Leica iCON gps 120