Uptown Campus – Colonial G & H Residence Hall Renovation and Recreation Center

April 2023

Background \ Overview:

This project gut-renovates both Paine and Zenger Halls on Colonial Quad, residence halls in the northwest corner of the UAlbany Uptown Campus, continuing the University’s ongoing program of modernizing student housing facilities. The project creates attractive, new living spaces for students and equally important, converts what was the Colonial Quad dining and kitchen facilities into a new home for UAlbany’s recreational services.

Project Description

This project will continue the University’s commitment on environmental stewardship, targeting LEED Gold, while respecting the composition of the original Mid-Century Modern architecture of Edward D. Stone. The total project is a complete gut renovation, recreating bedroom suite configurations for student residences, but with all new windows, air conditioning, lighting and energy improvements, interior reconstruction, new furniture, and other modern upgrades. The first floor will also house a multi-purpose center for Colonial Quad, an apartment for the quad director, enhanced accessibility suites. The upper floors will comprise the student suites, as well as the study and laundry rooms. The lower level comprised of the former kitchen and dining hall and U Lounge and courtyard will house the Recreation & Wellness program. This space will include a spinning room, cardio space, functional fitness suite, meditation room, large room activity room, mat room and a wellness suite. The former courtyard will be enclosed with a glass pavilion to gain this program space and provide an appropriate entry to the new facility.

Project Dates:

Project Design Complete – January 2020
Project Mobilization and construction start – Summer 2022
Project Completion – Summer 2024

Project Progress as of April 2023:

Construction is progressing according to plan. Steel for the new pavilion, the infill of the courtyard, has been set. The roof at Paine and Zenger is complete. The residential floors continue on schedule. MEP and insulation are nearing completion at Zenger, with the gypsum wall board in process. The framing and rough-in of MEP and framing are in progress at Paine, and are beginning on the ground level for the Recreation & Wellness program.