BY TUCKER REILLY, MANAGING EDITOR
A number of construction projects on the campus of St. Bonaventure University have progressed over the summer. Renovations to Plassmann Hall, a new wall and sign in front of Doyle Hall and a pavilion in front of Devereux Hall are all in various stages of development.
In April 2021, construction began on a wall in front of Doyle Hall, intended to replace the “St. Bonaventure” bushes that had been there for decades prior. Plans estimated the project would be completed Sept. 1. As of Sept. 21, the sign on the front of the wall – reading “St. Bonaventure” – became fully functional, with lights for nighttime viewing. The patio area that had been planned above and behind the wall is still under construction.
The pavilion in front of Devereux Hall was planned in April 2021 as a gathering area for students, with seating and fire pits inside the structure. Construction – also planned to be completed by Sept. 1 – has progressed, with a roof and tile raised over the foundation. Crews are still active on site, with a new completion date of Oct. 20, according to SBU-TV.
Renovations to Plassmann Hall have now received a plan of action. After a $3 million New York State HECap grant in March and a review by the board of trustees during their meetings from Oct. 1-3, construction in Plassmann appears imminent. The HECap, or Higher Education Capital grant program, provides matching grants for construction and equipment purchases in higher education institutions across New York state.
“The university has received an anonymous $1 million gift from a donor to kickstart the project,” said Tom Missel, the university’s chief communications officer. “Bonaventure’s Board of Trustees expressed confidence in the trajectory of the University at its fall meeting and approved a plan for university administrators to seek additional financing for upgrades to Plassmann Hall. With interest rates at historic lows, the thumbs-up from trustees allows the university to seek financing for the balance of the project.”
While this new approval does confirm that Plassmann renovations will be taking place, the process is still in its early stages. Clark Patterson Lee, an architecture firm with regional offices in Buffalo, will be providing architectural renderings in conjunction with the university’s Master Planning committee. Clark Patterson Lee has worked on numerous projects, such as additions to Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia and the recent Hickey Dining Hall renovations at Bonaventure.
Plassmann Hall was most recently renovated in 2017 and 2018, with the addition of a Student Success Center and the relocation of the university’s Teaching and Learning Center to the first floor. That project was also funded with a HECap grant and included accessibility improvements as well. The currently-planned renovation will take place over a longer timeframe.
“Construction will be carried out in phases during summers, starting in 2022,” said Missel. “The anticipated completion date for work on Plassmann is 2024.”
reillyt19@bonaventure.edu
