UAlbany Expands the Capital Region’s Academic R&D Footprint

Photo of the outside of ETEC's construction site.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 21, 2020) – The Capital Region’s academic research and development footprint spanned 1.5 million square feet in 2019 and will soon stretch even further – thanks in large part to the University at Albany.

UAlbany is listed in a new Center for Economic Growth (CEG) report as having 195,000 square feet dedicated to R&D on campus. That number is projected to increase significantly with the addition of the $180 million ETEC complex, which will house a total of 87,000 square feet of new R&D space by next fall.

Since 2018, UAlbany has been listed as the leader among local colleges and universities for both the start of new construction related to R&D and investments in repairs/renovations for current spaces on campus.

“As a major public research institution that is home to more than 17,500 students and one of the Albany area’s largest employers, it is critically important that we provide our campus community with the infrastructure necessary to foster innovation and success,” said President Havidán Rodríguez.

“Continuing to increase the Capital Region’s academic research and development footprint not only creates new pipelines for opportunity, but also strengthens the region’s reputation, influence and impact around the globe.”

Gov. Cuomo announced in 2016 that UAlbany would develop 12 adjoining acres on the Harriman Campus to build ETEC. The new complex will house the University’s first-in-the-nation College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center and the New York State Mesonet. There will be chemistry research labs, the Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, and various business development and technology transfer offices inside as well.

Once completed, ETEC will have the capacity to house more than 200 full-time faculty and researchers, 100 research and industry partners, and as many as 800 students. The University broke ground on the site in 2018 and is on track to complete construction this summer.

UAlbany is also in the midst of developing new R&D space in the former Albany High School on North Lake Avenue for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.