Included among the 50 Most Beautiful Campuses in the Country: Siena Secures $750K Grant for Science Complex
Siena’s campus is among the 50 most beautiful college settings in the country, according to Conde Nast. Soon, Siena’s footprint will be transformed by the $40 million addition to its science complex. In the meantime, Siena earned a grant of $750K to help fund new equipment for the new Nobel Hall and the Siena sciences.
It was announced last Wednesday that Siena College has received $750,000 in funding from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) under the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap).
Siena’s request for funding was specific to the purchase and acquisition of equipment for the new Nobel Hall science complex:
- computers
- audio-visual and information systems equipment
- laboratory equipment
- wireless upgrades
- classroom, laboratory and office furnishings and equipment
The budgeted amount for all equipment purchases for the project is approximately $3 million. Siena's request of $750,000 was fully funded; the College will match the remaining $2,250,000 to comply with the 3:1 match requirement from DASNY. Application for HECap funding was part of the College's collaborative approach to external funding through government and foundational support.
The new science complex will provide state of the art space for significant new and growing academic programs at Siena, particularly biology, which has the highest number of students enrolled of any major and is consistently the most sought-after major by the College’s prospective students, as well as nursing, which is one of the fastest growing majors.
Construction of Nobel Hall (phase 1 of the project) is on schedule to be completed in time for the spring 2025 semester. Phase 2 of the project will feature upgrades to the existing Roger Bacon Hall; construction is targeted for the summers of 2025 and 2026.
A new round of HECap funding has been announced by DASNY for 2024; Siena plans to evaluate equipment purchase priorities and submit a new request.
“Siena College is grateful to Gov. Kathy Hochul, the New York State Legislature, and the HECap Board for their critical investment in infrastructure for higher education in New York. The new Nobel Hall and renovated Roger Bacon Hall complex will be a transformative addition to the Siena campus, allowing the College to unlock its full potential in the sciences. We can enhance programming, offer an improved student experience, and ultimately impact the upstate New York economy by preparing students for careers in health care and the sciences.”
President Chuck Seifert