Nazareth College is looking to construct a 70,000-square-foot building to house its math and science programs.
College President Daan Braveman hopes to begin construction next spring and have it completed by fall 2012.
The three-story integrated math and science building would sit between Smyth Hall and the Golisano Academic Center in the center of the campus. It would feature laboratories and research and collaboration space.
Braveman called the $32 million project the most significant academic building project in the history of the college.
Nazareth has seen health and human services enrollment grow about 55 percent over the last six years. The college offers many math and science-related programs such as nursing, physical therapy, biology, chemistry and math. Additionally, undergraduate students are required to take a laboratory science course.
“We’ve got a lot going on in math and sciences and the current existing facilities just don’t meet the demand,” Braveman said.
Braveman said Nazareth is also looking to address the need for more math and science teachers across the country. He feels the building would benefit the community as well as the college.
“Even though most of our students come from outside the Rochester area, in the health and human services programs 75 percent or more stay in this area when they graduate,” Braveman said. “In the education programs, most of them stay in this area. We’re really providing the work force in this area.”
Additionally the project would employ an estimated 230 workers for construction.
An informational meeting for neighbors was held Thursday. The town of Pittsford Planning Board is opening a public hearing on the project at 7:30 p.m. June 28.
French Road resident Paul Knipper is planning to be at the meeting with his neighbors. He said the neighborhood has an agreement with the college to hold meetings before projects go to the Town Board.
Knipper didn’t want to comment on the project before hearing the presentation.
