Union Graduate College breaks ground on $8 million bldg. project

On June 13, Union Graduate College broke ground on its new $8 million, 24,000 s/f campus in the downtown area. The new Graduate Center will be located at 80 Nott Terr., at the corner of Liberty St.  The campus is a 1.5 acre site and includes a three-story, 24,000 s/f building.  One-third of the site will be devoted to green space. The Graduate Center, expected to open in fall of 2009, will be constructed of a combination of masonry, metal panels and a glass "curtain wall." The building will provide students with "one-stop" shopping for student services such as admissions, registration, and financial aid. It will also include computer labs, conference facilities and faculty offices.  The building has been designed with a variety of meeting spaces, many offering spectacular views of downtown and the greater Mohawk Valley. The Graduate Center will also include the Robb Center for Principled Leadership. Through the vision and generosity of Walter Robb, a Union Graduate College trustee, retired executive of General Electric and a highly regarded Capital Region business leader, this multi-dimensional center will encompass a broad range of learning experiences to help students and the community, develop the leadership skills, knowledge and values that employers seek.   Commitments have been secured for more than half of the $8 million building costs, through both public and private sources. Grants include: * U.S. senator Charles Schumer (D-NY): $198,000 Federal Budget Appropriation * Senator Hugh Farley (R-Niskayuna): $1 million NYS Legislative Grant * Empire State Development: $1 million budget initiative * Higher Education Capital Matching Grants Program: $180,000 * Wright Family Foundation: $100,000 * Schenectady Foundation: $75,000