Unveiling of the Campus Center

[Truth]

Staff report Three years after ground was broken for the first major new building at the State University College at Oswego in 35 years, the college and community will get their first look inside the $25.5 million Campus Center this week.

An open house for college faculty and staff Tuesday will mark the anniversary of work beginning on the project that houses a 2,500-square-foot ice arena and convocation center. The space can accommodate up to 4,000 people for events such as graduations and concerts.

Following is a list of public events planned for the week:

-Wednesday, the Oswego community will be able to tour the 111,492-square-foot structure from 4 to 6 p.m.

-A pep rally at the center, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, is to help students and supporters get in the mood for hockey games scheduled this weekend. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

-The ice arena will have its coming-out party when the men's hockey team plays Utica College at 7 p.m. Friday. The game is sold out.

-Hockey fans who miss the men's game can catch the first women's hockey game at Oswego in more than 20 years when the team takes the ice at 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday against Chatham College. For ticket information, go to the athletic tickets page at the college Web site, www.oswego.edu

Free shuttle buses will take fans from the Romney Field House parking lot to the Campus Center for the open house and men's hockey game.

Work on the Campus Center isn't finished. A host of student union services - including a food court, retail space, the Educational Planning Center, meeting rooms and an auditorium - aren't scheduled to open until next September.

The Campus Center is the focal point of a complex that includes renovated Poucher and Swetman halls. The Campus Center complex, in turn, is part of $160 million in upgrades of facilities campuswide, and part of a pedestrian spine that eventually will link Sheldon Quad and the West Campus.

from www.syracuse.com

[Truth]

(from the Pall-Time online)
PARKING, TRAFFIC SUNY

Oswego's new Campus Center will open with two big events this week. Because of high demand, university police at the college are offering advice on parking and traffic flow, including letting visitors know about a direct shuttle.

Special arrangements have been made for the convenience of those attending the community open house - 4-6 p.m. Wednesday - and the first men's ice hockey game in the arena - against Utica at 7 p.m. Friday. The game is sold out.

Two shuttle buses from the Romney lot south of Route 104 directly to the Campus Center will offer a minimum amount of waiting, said Cynthia Adam, interim chief of university police.

“We know there is a lot of excitement because people have been following the construction of the Campus Center,” Adam said. “Hockey fans particularly have been counting the days until the puck drops. So we're doing everything we can to make sure it's easy for the public to enjoy these opening events.”

Those attending the open house or other Campus Center events can best access the campus from the main entrance at Route 104 and Sweet Road and park in lots with sandwich boards that read “Event Parking.”

Visitors to Campus Center events will not need a parking permit. Regular campus traffic and parking regulations apply to all Campus Center events, although, at this time, the Romney-to-Campus-Center shuttle will be offered only Wednesday and Friday.

The Laker women's varsity ice hockey program will play for the first time in more than two decades with a 3 p.m. contest against Chatham College on Saturday. The two teams will play in the arena again at 1 p.m., Oct. 22. Tickets to these games are available through 3 p.m. Friday by contacting Tyler box office at 312-2141 or [e-mail]. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The women's ice hockey program relaunches this year as an NCAA Division III team with the opening of the Campus Center.

Since Friday through Sunday also marks Family and Friends Weekend at the college, parking is expected to be at more of a premium than usual.

For more information on parking on campus and a map, visit www.oswego.edu/administration/parking.

The Campus Center is part of a larger complex including Swetman and Poucher halls in more than $160 million of campus-wide renewal, upgrades and updating to enhance Oswego's learner-centered environment.

A grand opening for the completed Campus Center complex, including a renovated Swetman Hall between Poucher and the new construction, is slated for September 2007. Unveiled then will be student activities areas, a food court, retail space, meeting rooms, the Educational Planning Center, a range of offices and new auditorium space.

The Campus Center - the college's first all-new facility since the Service Building opened its doors in 1971 - is a $25.5 million, 111,492-square-foot project. Its funding comes from 80 percent public funds - including $17 million in capital funding secured by State Sen. James W. Wright, a 1971 alumnus - and 20 percent private funds.

Persons with disabilities seeking accommodations to attend these events should call 312-3056 in advance.

For more information, visit www.oswego.edu/center. ADVICE OFFERED FOR OPENING CAMPUS CENTER EVENTS THIS WEEK