Facilities Planning Design and Construction

View of the Student Life Center and tennis courts from Park Center

The Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Office (FPDC) coordinates, processes and manages all planning, design and construction activities at SUNY Cortland's main and satellite campuses. Projects, regardless of size and scope, are governed by the office's commitment to achieving client goals through responsive and comprehensive planning, design and construction services. All projects are shaped by administrative and client goals, project and academic schedules and available funding sources. The Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Office responsibilities include:

Space Planning, Design and Programming

Planning and programming establish the feasibility of a project in quantifiable terms. These pre-design activities strive to articulate the project's goals and objectives as they relate to the program requirements, the site, schedule and available funding. At this stage, efforts focus on assessment, analysis, conceptualization, consultant recommendations and the reconciliation of needs and resources.

  • Space Analysis
  • Programming
  • Construction Models
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Conceptual Design
  • Consultant Recommendations

Major Projects

Most major projects — over $2 million — are handled by the State University Construction Fund (SUCF). These complex, large-scale projects range from program studies to building rehabs to new buildings. SUCF is responsible for hiring the architects, engineers, and specialty consultants, and for the issuance and award of construction contracts. FPDC is deeply involved in all phases and aspects of these projects. The office represents the university's interests, coordinates design and construction with campus activities, reviews all contract documents and monitors all construction activities.

In some instances, especially residence hall projects, FPDC oversees all aspects of programming, design and construction. These types of projects require significantly greater commitment by FPDC, and offer more flexibility in design, scheduling and construction.

  • Program Studies
  • New Buildings
  • Rehabilitation of Buildings

Minor Construction

The majority of campus projects are considered minor projects – under $2 million – and are managed solely by FPDC. If the project requires architectural and engineering design documentation, this can be done by a campus team of licensed or intern architects and engineers, or outsourcing to a design firm. Either way, FPDC is involved in the definition of scope, programming, budgets and estimates, scheduling construction, and the accumulation of contract documents (drawings and specifications). During construction FPDC acts in a variety of roles and responsibilities. These commitments range from owner's representative to construction site representative, and on occasion as the general contractor.

  • Scope Definition
  • Program Requirements
  • Budgets/Estimates
  • Scheduling Construction
  • Drawings & Specifications

Facilities Records and Databases

FPDC maintains a plan room with an inventory of all existing plans, as-built drawings and specifications, as well as a Physical Space Inventory (PSI) database of every room on campus and its current use. Information collected here is available to university personnel and consultants associated with campus construction, renovations and maintenance activities. To increase the accessibility of this information FPDC is currently creating a database of plans and records, and a Graphic Information System (GIS) to map PSI and other data onto building floor plans. Recording responsibilities include:

  • Archives of Projects
  • Facilities Database
  • Physical Space Inventory (PSI)
  • Survey and Drafting (manual and AutoCAD)
  • Document Reproduction

Building Code Enforcement

Several members of FPDC are trained and certified as New York State Uniform Building Code compliance managers and coordinators. The state has authorized the campus (main & satellite) to act as its own building code jurisdiction. The code enforcement officer is charged with building permit application, review and issuance, as well as inspection of construction, and issuance of certificates of compliance and occupancy. The building code compliance coordinators are responsible for policing the campus for violations, issuing citations for such violations, and managing their remediation.

Surge Relocation Information

Information regarding relocations will fall under:

  1. Moves as a result of department/program initiated request (not associated with a capital project)
  2. Moves as a result of a capital project and surge initiated by PDC

Project Updates and Q&A

CVH C-Wing Renovation Q&A


Building Access

Question: Which hallways, entrances, and stairwells will be open for staff working in Van Hoesen B-Wing to use during the construction.

Answer: For the predominant duration of the C-Wing renovation, all hallways, staircases, and entrances currently available in the B-Wing will remain accessible, including the stairwell at the east end. A new door is being installed across from the Communications Studies Office (B117) that will allow access to that stairwell.

At some point during the project, some renovation of the small areas at the east end of B-Wing will take place, so that access will be temporarily closed off. This will take place during breaks only and campus-wide announcements will be made.

Only direct access to and through the C-Wing will be closed for the duration of the project.

Question: Will the stairs at the east end of B-Wing be available for emergencies only?

Answer: The stairs at the east end of the B-Wing will be available for the duration of the project except for a few times when work will be happening within those spaces. The contractor will only work in those areas during breaks, and we will notify the campus when we anticipate any closures.

Question: Will the ramp and the walkway/staircase at the north end of the C-Wing be accessible.

Answer: No, both the ramp and the walkway/staircase will be part of the construction area and will not be accessible for the duration of the project. There will be no passage between the north end of CVH and Bowers Hall for the duration of the project (see Figure 2 below).


Mailroom Locations

Question: Where are the mailrooms now located?

Answer:
Cornish Hall, D-Wing, room 1305

  1. C.E   
  2. Childhood/ Early Childhood  
  3. FESP- Field Studies   
  4. Faculty Development  
  5. LLP Liberty Partnerships   
  6. Literacy   
  7. Foundations and Social Advocacy   

Van Hoesen Hall, A-Wing, room 28A

  1. Career Services  
  2. The Learning Center 
  3. Student Health Services  
  4. Residence Life  
  5. Migrant Education 
  6. Communication Studies 
  7. Counseling and Wellness Services  

McDonald Building

  1. ROTC  
  2. Faculty Senate  

Memorial Library

  1. Disability Resources   

Miscellaneous

Question: Currently, we use the water fountain in the C-Wing. Will we have access to another one?

Answer: There is a chilled water unit plus dish fountain in the B-Wing in the second-floor hallway.

Question: Will there be air quality testing?

Answer: Yes, there will be air quality testing throughout the project.

Question: When is the project due to be completed?

Answer: January 2026

Question: Which tree is being removed. 

Answer: The oak tree tucked between B- and C-Wings 

Ariel view of buildings showing a tree that is being removed

Question: Was there no way to save the oak tree that sat between B- & C-wings? 

Answer: Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the tree.  It was directly in the construction site.  FOS is preserving a section of the tree to have made into a bench.  We too are saddened but it was a necessary evil for the project to move forward. 


Noise

Question: Student Health Services sees patients and classes will be in session during fall and spring. Will the construction noise create disruptions?

Answer: Whenever possible, exterior construction will take place within the C-Wing while classes are in session. The Construction Fund has requested that all deliveries be made by 8 a.m. whenever possible as well. If a problem arises, please notify Loralee and we will address it immediately.

The contractor has been made aware of when classes will be in session, of exam schedules and of the presence of Student Health Services. We are working together to minimize noise and disruptions as much as possible.


Parking

Question: I am a person with disabilities and park in handicap. I am concerned that the lack of ADA parking in N4 will be a problem. 

Answer: We have made several adjustments to relocate the accessible parking affected by the CVH C-wing renovation, specifically:   

  • The addition of four accessible stalls in the Corey N-21 parking lot (two additional spots will be signed once construction is complete in CVH A-wing) 
  • The relocation of two stalls adjacent to the original location   

During the last year, observations show the accessible spots outside of CVH C-wing were typically not at 100% capacity. 

 While this is the initial plan, we will continually monitor conditions in the area, and adjust parking allocations if needed. 

 A map of the parking facilities is available online

 Please contact the Parking Operations and Security Services Office at 4123 if you have any questions about these changes. 

Question: How many parking spaces will be closed for the duration of the project.

Answer:

2 EV spaces
3 ADA accessible spaces
22 Regular spaces
2 Service vehicle only spaces

Question: How can we get to the east end of the building from the back parking lot?

Answer: There will be an asphalt walkway to the first floor along the construction fencing area. There will be plenty of signage to help direct people who wish to use that path (see Figure 1 below).

Map of Tomik Gym parking lot and walkway access

Figure 1: Walkway from Parking Lot

Question: When will the temporary walls that will block access to and through the C-Wing be installed?

Answer: According to the contractor, the work is set to begin July 13, 2023, and will be completed July 21, 2023.

Question: When will the fence that will block access to the construction zone be in place?

Answer: The contractor has not provided a firm date yet, but they are expecting it to be in place by the end of July or the first week in August (see Figure 2 below).

Map of Tomik construction zone

Figure 2: Construction Zone and Pathways Around


Signage

Question: Will there be additional signage to help direct faculty, staff, and students?

Answer: Yes, the contractor is required to provide extensive signage to ensure people know the safest route to take around the

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Contact Us

Facilities Planning, Design and Construction
Whitaker Hall, Room 219
Phone: 607-753-5582
Fax: 607-753-5992

Mission Statement

The mission of the Facilities Planning, Design, and Construction Office is to provide stewardship necessary to renew and preserve the integrity of campus facilities to ensure a safe, reliable, attractive, and efficient environment that supports the mission of the campus and the evolving needs of our students, faculty, staff, and guests.