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03/10/2015

Student Life Center Ribbon to Be Cut

The ceremonial grand opening of SUNY Cortland’s 150,000-square-foot Student Life Center as the new focal point for campus life is scheduled for Friday, March 13, at 11 a.m. on the building’s multi-activity court. It will be followed by tours of the unique, glass-walled complex.

In addition to SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum, State Sen. James L. Seward, R-Oneonta, Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, D-Ithaca, and former Cortland Mayor Martin “Marty” Mack M ’76, a senior staffer for the New York Attorney General’s Office, will speak. All three were instrumental in funding the $56 million project.

Gil C. Quiniones, president and CEO of the New York Power Authority, will address SUNY Cortland’s commitment to sustainability in designing and building the complex.

“The commitment demonstrated by SUNY Cortland to make the Student Life Center, along with the entire campus, a model for energy efficiency is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Quiniones. “Governor Cuomo started the BuildSmart NY program, which requires all state-owned and managed buildings to reduce how much power they use 20 percent by 2020. Cortland is already more than halfway toward that goal.”

Since it opened to students, faculty and staff on Feb. 16, SUNY Cortland’s Student Life Center has become the campus’ new focal point for student recreation, social interaction and experiential learning.

Features in the north wing of the complex include a 343-seat food court, Recreational Sports’ new Outdoor Pursuits Center and a retail snack bar. Student recreation space is located in the south wing, including two floors of fitness facilities, a three-court gymnasium, a recreational swimming pool, student lounge with video games and pool tables, a one-fifth-mile elevated running track and much more.