Architecture school's downtown plans designed to pe permanent

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Feb 25, 2005 by DeRico, Anthony

SYRACUSE - Syracuse University's much-publicized plan to connect its main campus with downtown Syracuse businesses and neighborhoods will begin with temporarily moving the School of Architecture into the former Dunk & Bright warehouse at West Fayette and South West streets. Though the school will only be downtown for a few years, it plans on establishing permanent connections there, Dean Mark Robbins tells The Central New York Business Journal.

Syracuse University's Board of Trustees approved the building purchase and renovation last Dec. 3. The anticipated move-in date for the School of Architecture is set for the end of the fall 2005 semester.

The 140,000-square-foot Dunk & Bright building will include a mix of public and private space, according to Robbins. Plans call for the building's first floor to house public meeting rooms for visual and performing-arts; organizations as well as a box office for university events such as basketball and football games. The building's remaining three floors will be comprised of the School of Architecture, the Goldring Arts journalism program, and the Upstate Institute for Design.

"Other cities and universities have found success in similar collaborations," says Robbins. "When trying to get students to think about designing buildings and cityscapes, what better experience than to have their learning environment in a city campus located in a pedestrian-friendly downtown area."

The School of Architecture move was prompted by plans to completely renovate its current home, Slocum Hall, on SU's main campus beginning in the spring of 2006. The three-year overhaul headed by architect and SU alum James Garrison includes opening up the school's main atrium area, according to Dean Robbins.

When the renovation is completed, the School of Architecture will return to its main campus home. However, the university's impact on the downtown area will not be temporary, according to Robbins. He says the architectural program, as well as another to-be-determined college of visual and performing arts program, will continue to have a presence downtown long after the renovations are completed.

"Students will continue to work with the [Upstate] Institute for Design as well as downtown businesses to collaborate on projects," says Robbins. "We want the space to become a center of activity and collaboration [among] the university, businesses, and community groups."

According to Robbins, the Upstate Institute of Design is an example of the long-term impact that the move will have on the downtown area. He says the Institute will work with students in the School of Architecture to study the impact of population and tax-base erosion on downtownarea business and city government.

Together with city officials and local businesses, the Institute will explore developing a comprehensive urban-revitalization plan that will assist the local economy and become a model for other cities facing similar problems elsewhere around the country.

"This will be an attractive opportunity for community leaders and prospective students looking to go into urban planning to work towards benefiting our community," says Robbins.

SU hasn't finalized plans for the use of the building's additional space. However, possibilities include an art gallery, magnet school for the arts, coffee shop, bookstore, and studio space for university students and local residents.