Last updated April 24, 2024
LATEST UPDATES
- This map illustrates what the Nobel Hall construction site and surrounding parking lots will look like after Commencement and through the summer months:
- To keep traffic flow around the construction site slow and safe, temporary speed bumps will be installed on Friars Road in May. The work zone signs with flashing beacons will remain in place. We ask that all campus community members exercise caution and observe a 10 MPH speed limit near the construction site.
- With the exception of a few minor interior elements, all of the project’s structural systems, including the steel structure and concrete flatwork, are now complete.
- Interior utility system infrastructure work, including installation of fire protection piping and plumbing lines, installation of HVAC ductwork, and running of electrical raceways is well underway and will be ongoing for the next few months.
- Any required utility outages will be scheduled once the spring semester is over. There is an outage scheduled for Friday, May 31 to allow National Grid to complete work on their Spring Street Road campus feeder.
- Installation of Nobel Hall’s permanent roofing system is almost complete. Interior wall framing and work to support the extensive electrical and mechanical infrastructure will continue to progress from the basement through the upper floors.
- Construction of the permanent exterior wall framing system is well underway, and work on the exterior brick/masonry walls is scheduled to start in May.
- Additional exterior/underground utility system work in and adjacent to the Nobel Hall job site will begin by early May. Parking Lot G will have a new sanitary line run through a portion of the lot. Traffic will be rerouted when this new line is installed across Friars Road.
- Additional work in the Morrell Science Center, including work to construct the corridor from MSC to Nobel Hall and reconstruct displaced offices and labs, will begin right after Commencement in mid-May. Work in the Roger Bacon/MSC courtyard area will also begin at that time and will run through most of the summer.
TIMELINE/GENERAL
Where can I view the construction project?
- Live video feed of the Nobel Hall construction site.
What is the rough timeline for the entire science complex project?
- Phase 1 of the project – the construction of Nobel Hall - is on schedule and is expected to be complete by the end of 2024, in time for the spring 2025 semester.
- Phase 2 of the project will feature upgrades to the existing Roger Bacon Hall. Design will run through mid-2024, with construction targeted for the summers of 2025 and 2026.
Any construction timeline is subject to change due to a number of factors. We will provide regular updates on this webpage throughout the project.
What are the planned hours and days for construction work?
Construction hours will be Monday through Friday from 7AM to 5PM. There will also be some work that takes place on Saturdays. This schedule is subject to adjustment as the need arises.
PARKING
Will there be enough campus parking while the building is under construction?
The College surveys the parking situation regularly and there is ample parking for our community throughout campus. Employees, students and visitors may need to use spaces in a different location than where they usually park, but a certain level of disruption is expected with a project this size. We appreciate everyone’s patience.
Contactor parking has been mainly contained to the work site and Lot X.
TRAFFIC
What campus entrances/exits will be used by construction vehicles?
Siena continues to comply with locally imposed restrictions that require all Nobel Hall construction vehicles to avoid using Fiddlers Lane when entering or exiting campus. All other truck traffic, including Regular delivery and larger vehicles that support campus operations, are still permitted to enter/exit campus via Fiddlers Lane. Nobel Hall truck traffic is permitted by the Town of Colonie to use all of our other campus entrances/exits, including:
- Main campus entrance off Route 9/Loudon Road
- Main campus exit onto Route 9/Loudon Road
- Turchi Road entrance off Spring Street Road
- Spring Street Road to Chapel Road
How will traffic on Route 9 be impacted, especially during morning and late afternoon rush hour?
We will continue to monitor traffic impact throughout the project. Precise traffic flow is difficult to predict due to a number of contributing factors, such as the phase of the project, campus activity, weather, time of year, private residence trash pick-up, and more. To date, the impacts
to Route 9 traffic have been minimal.
I still see trucks and other construction related vehicles on Fiddlers Lane. I thought they were prohibited?
- Construction vehicles supporting Siena’s Nobel Hall construction project are required to use the campus entrances/exits listed above.
- Siena still receives deliveries related to ongoing business from vehicles that are permitted on Fiddlers Lane (e.g., FedEx, UPS, waste removal, etc.)
- Construction vehicles unrelated to work at Siena are not prohibited from traveling on Fiddlers Lane (e.g., Bonded Concrete, trucks going to Steeple View, etc.)
- Siena’s Public Safety team is monitoring the Fiddlers Lane/Middlefield Road campus entrance with a security camera.
CONSTRUCTION
Are there any fumes - from vehicles or building materials - that could prove harmful to humans and pets?
All vehicles that will be used for the project have been inspected and are in compliance with federal and state regulations. All building materials will be installed in compliance with federal and state regulations to protect the construction workers, as well as campus and neighborhood residents.
What is the expected impact on stormwater flow?
Siena’s comprehensive stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) has already been approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Site visits will be performed weekly to ensure the SWPPP is being followed and that any deficiencies are reported to Gilbane (the project’s general contractor) and immediately remediated.
After construction, the stormwater that leaves the site will be reduced in volume.
Is Nobel Hall being sustainably constructed? What are some of the “green” features of the new building that will help protect the environment?
Siena is committed to sustainable construction and operations. We are pleased to share that the new science complex, which includes Nobel Hall and a refurbishment of the existing Roger Bacon Hall, will feature the following elements to help Siena reduce its carbon footprint:
- LED interior lights to reduce energy consumption and improve occupant comfort
- LED exterior lights that are dark sky compliant, to reduce energy consumption, prevent light pollution, and reduce the impact of exterior lighting on Breyo Observatory
- Low flow plumbing fixtures to reduce water consumption
- A highly reflective roof to reduce heat gain in the building, which in turn reduces cooling demand and a heat island effect
- Low VOC paints and interior finishes for healthier air for building occupants
- Highly filtered interior air using Merv13 filters
- Highly efficient low E/argon-filled glass windows to reduce heat gain and heating/cooling loss
- Nobel Hall and Roger Bacon Hall will be supported by an emergency generator that will help us reach our set goals when we participate in our campus-wide electrical system demand response program to reduce electrical loads at peak times
- Energy recovery ventilation for a more efficient HVAC system: since science buildings require a lot of ventilation, this system will capture the warmth of interior air prior to ventilation during winter months, or the coolness of interior air prior to ventilation during the summer months
- Integrated stormwater control systems
- A state-of-the-art building management system that will monitor and control all of
Nobel Hall’s HVAC equipment, including lab fume hoods
OTHER
How often will this FAQ list be updated?
It will be updated every two weeks, or whenever new/important information is available. The top of the webpage will feature a date when the content was last updated. Campus community members will be alerted to the updates via the Daily Digests.
If I have a specific concern or question that is not addressed here, whom should I contact?
Siena has designated an independent consultant to address these questions. Contact information is listed below.
