The University at Albany is undertaking an enormous new project. The school, which is a well known presence in the area, is planning to establish a College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The Schuyler building, which was formerly the Albany High School, will house the college plans are made to renovate the building to make space for new classrooms, office and research spaces, as well as a maker space for innovators from the community to gather and create.
The school expects that many prospective students will want to be part of these new science and technology programs. Due to the school’s international reach more minorities and female students will have a chance to be part of STEM fields where they have so far been underrepresented. As well as new and diverse students, new jobs will be created which will bring more people into the city. This will bring more business to our local communities and more opportunities.
This is especially exciting for the Central Avenue community because it comes on the heels of the preparations to build a STEAM Garden, the location of which will be right down the street from the Schuyler building. The STEAM Garden will be located in what was formerly St. Patrick’s School and will be renovated to create spaces to foster the arts, sciences and math.
This project is designed not only to bring entrepreneurs to the city, but to allow them to interact with the city and the people in it. Start up companies will have space to grow and expand their companies. Artists will have space to exhibit their creations. This is a place that will be centered around the community to enable a creative environment where ideas can come to life and prosper.
The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UAlbany paired with the STEAM Garden will allow the city to expand in a way that will bring economic growth to our city and local businesses. UAlbany expects to be able to interact with the community frequently and with the STEAM Garden not far away, the community will be impacted positively every single day. Together they help the community to thrive and create new markets and generate new and innovate collaborations between the school and the community. Perhaps most importantly, the two will lay down a foundation to provide future generations with the tools they need to succeed.
UAlbany has the full support from those of here at Central BID and we cannot wait to be able to work alongside University at Albany students.
