Public-private partnerships are becoming the way to get construction accomplished in New York state.
Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake needed more room for students, but because time was short, some creative thinking came into play.
“We only had two or three months to complete the building and be prepared for students arriving back for the beginning of the school year,” said Howie Berman, principal of Goshen-based The Ruby Group.
To save time, Berman used factory-built modular components that cut weeks off the construction schedule.
“They are spacious, comfortable homes that promote a much different lifestyle than traditional college dorms,” Berman said. “They instill a sense of community among students and encourages them to take on responsibilities not ordinarily found in institutional housing facilities.”
The new residences have 24 bedrooms, three of which are accessible for the disabled. They include living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms and are modeled after traditional New England homes with porches.
To facilitate the $1.5 million project, The Ruby Group worked with Sullivan County Community College Dormitory Corp. The builders leased the land on campus, received necessary municipal approvals and financing, then contracted with Longley Jones, based in Syracuse, to handle the property management when the project was completed.
“Colleges across the nation are adding housing or modernizing existing dorms,” said Pete Berman, Ruby Group CEO. The private-public arrangement meant no cost to the college to provide the housing, an approach Berman said can help other colleges and universities manage financial constraints while continuing to provide quality housing for students.
The college”™s new housing meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Energy Star and National Green Building Standards. The Ruby Group is aiming for gold certification level.
“While these buildings may have had slightly higher upfront costs, over time, the initial investment will be recouped many times over by lower, long-term energy costs … it is possible to erect a ”˜green”™ building without causing delays or inflating costs,” Berman said.
Another SUNY school in the Hudson Valley is looking at housing for students. Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, which has no student housing as yet, has been in the planning stage for the past two years. A final environmental impact statement was adopted by the college”™s board of trustees in June. Plans call for a four-story, 160,000-square-foot building containing 465 beds.
