Excitement Builds as Construction of Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation Continues Apace with Opening Slated for Early 2020

Excitement is growing on campus as the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation takes shape and major renovations to Buckman Hall are slated to begin this summer.

The Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation has been specifically designed as a 21st century "collaborative space for students of vastly different backgrounds to come together to share ideas in the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, to develop partnerships to advance their thinking and ideas," says Louis Annino, Associate Vice President and chief facilities officer.

In early 2020, communications students will be able to collaborate with criminal justice and cybersecurity students to develop a virtual crime scene in the virtual reality communications studio. Music industry, art and design, and engineering students will create together in the center’s Makerspace and College of Business students can partner with Health Science students on a start-up, sketching out ideas together with plenty of space to perfect their pitch. "No one owns the new building; everyone does," Annino says.

University President Steve Kaplan says the 40,000 square-foot facility will embody the University’s culture of innovation. Named to honor longtime University benefactors Samuel S. Bergami Jr. '85 EMBA ,'02 Hon., and Lois Bergami, the center "will provide an exceptional environment for our students to learn, create, and collaborate with each other…and it will provide even more opportunities for our students to develop the same forward-thinking mindset that Sam has demonstrated throughout his distinguished career."

"One of the great things that happens in the space is a convergence of approaches that creates an awesome learning environment."Joseph Smolinski, chair of the Department of Art and Design

The first floor will feature a communications suite with state-of-the-art video and audio, teaching spaces and an expansive Makerspace. Maria-Isabel Carnasciali, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering and chair of the Department of Engineering and Applied Science Education, says the new University Makerspace will build upon the successes of the current one, "where students can see and touch an idea in a way that they can’t see it with an equation on paper. It’s been designed so the University can grow with it, everything can be moved around and yet tools and equipment are accessible to all and ready for use," she says.

Joseph Smolinski, chair of the Department of Art and Design, says many art and design classes use the current University Makerspace and he looks forward to the innovation opportunities the new building will provide. "One of the great things that happens in the space is a convergence of approaches that creates an awesome learning environment," he says. "Our students see the pragmatic approach of the engineering students that make them question function and efficiency. Our students offer a concept that is driven by visual communication and often testing the limits of materials and processes. Both of these sides contribute to the exciting research environment that reflects the current state of art, design, engineering, and technology. The more that we create these collaborations, the more ready our students will be to enter a 21st century career path."

On the second floor, students and faculty can work in the open space resource zone, in meeting rooms, and gather in the atrium/café located next to the bridge that will connect to Buckman Hall. The second and third floors each feature three smart classrooms with glass doors that can open to utilize space in the balcony areas. "The auditorium/lecture hall will be equipped with high end acoustic and audio-visual equipment and tiered, moveable seating so that tandem rows can move to allow for student collaboration," Annino says.

The building’s design took root as a result of cross disciplinary discussions, a series of workshops with faculty, students and staff from across the colleges sharing what they felt a University center of innovation should be. "When faculty members talked about what they would like to use the center for and what they would use their current space for," Annino says "the University decided to also make significant investments and upgrades in other academic buildings, so their own spaces and the Center could be put to their best use."

"The new building will be the heart of campus and because it will be connected to Buckman Hall our students will have ready access to the Makerspace and collaborative spaces where they can work on projects."Ron Harichandran, dean of the Tagliatela College of Engineering

Creating a utility building to the south of the Bergami Center meant that renovations to Buckman Hall long considered impossible because of the lack of needed power and utilities are now becoming a reality.

Beginning this summer, Buckman Hall will be transformed into a leading-edge science and engineering laboratory and classroom building. The first phase includes the creation of expanded mechanical engineering and machine shops and modernized mechanical and civil engineering labs and classroom space. In the fall, renovations begin on state-of-the-art biomedical, computer science, cybersecurity, and electrical engineering spaces. In the summer of 2020, the final phase includes creation of advanced chemistry labs.

"The new building will be the heart of campus and because it will be connected to Buckman Hall our students will have ready access to the Makerspace and collaborative spaces where they can work on projects," says Dean Ron Harichandran. "The renovations to Buckman Hall are much needed to move our biomedical engineering and chemistry labs from a distant off-campus location to campus and to enhance teaching and research needs across all programs," he continued. "Our faculty are very excited about the new possibilities that the renovation will bring and will enable the enhancements by relocating their offices to existing buildings on Ruden Street."

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