A new Engineering and Science Building at Binghamton University is poised to give BU and the Southern Tier a leg up on the competition. Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) joined other leaders from the community and university for the official grand opening ceremony today. Lupardo worked with Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) to secure $66 million in state funding for the project.

The two-story, 125,000 square-foot building is connected to the Biotechnology Building, which is part of the university’s Innovative Technologies Complex (ITC).

“The importance of the work being done here at the ITC cannot be overstated,” said Lupardo. “This cutting-edge research will continue to translate into innovation and development here in the Southern Tier.”

The building is already earning recognition as well. The Engineering News Record recently named the facility the top “Green Project of the Year in the New York Region” in its annual competition.

“Governor Cuomo established Regional Economic Development Councils based on partnerships,” said Lupardo. “As you know, right here in the Southern Tier, Binghamton University is central to that vision.”

Besides state-of-the-art laboratory space, the building also features suites for business start-ups and offices. A large rotunda feature connects the two ITC buildings, offering access to laboratories and fostering closer interactions between departments and research centers currently housed in the biotechnology facility.

Lupardo stressed the importance of using the new building to educate the community about how vital Binghamton University is to the region. She called for open houses at the building for science teachers and students, as well as classroom presentations on the work being done there.

A third building is under construction at the ITC, which will house the Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging (S³IP) Center. In 2006, Lupardo was successful at getting the S³IP Center designated as a New York State Center of Excellence.