Buffalo State acquired more than 1.5 acres of waterfront property from the Division of Military and Naval Affairs on June 30, expanding the footprint of its Great Lakes Center Field Station to more than 10 acres.
The transaction was the last in a series of property swaps that made construction of the Frank Lloyd Wright Fontana Boathouse possible. The boathouse opened in 2007.
"This acquisition gives us a lot more flexibility," said Mark Severson, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences. "The Field Station is already playing an important role in the research conducted by the Great Lakes Center, and we expect that role to grow as we add additional international and graduate programs in environmental and watershed sciences."
New facilities at the Great Lakes Center Field Station are included in Buffalo State’s Facilities Master Plan, which addresses the “projected capital facilities improvement needs of the campus for a 10-year period (2013–2023).”
Flynn Battaglia Architects conducted a program study in July 2011 that summarized anticipated needs to be met by a new facility. The study recommended construction of a 37,273-square-foot facility that would include winter storage for Buffalo State’s fleet of 11 vessels, additional lab and classroom space, and efficiency living quarters for visiting research scientists collaborating with the Great Lakes Center. Site development would also include space for buses to drop off students and visitors, a floating dock, and an improved boat-launch ramp.
Mark Clapsadl, manager of the Field Station, said, "Long term, I hope we have a facility that enables us to provide expanded support to our Great Lakes research efforts. In the short term, I’m pleased that we have a facility to store and repair our boats, especially in light of the new boats we’ve acquired in the last few years."
