Academic success and vibrant campus life are increasingly dependent on up-to-date classrooms, technical resources in all disciplines, and new athletic facilities. The caliber of Niagara University’s facilities is as crucial to attracting top students as is its academic excellence. Several campaign projects will improve academic and athletic life on campus.

ACADEMIC COMPLEX: $16.5 MILLION : OPENED MAY 2007

The physical changes to campus have already begun. The Academic Complex–the new home of the colleges of Business
Administration and Education–broke ground May 2, 2006, to an enthusiastic crowd of several hundred guests.

This 56,000 square foot Academic Complex complements a number of campus buildings that have been newly built or renovated over the past decade. The Academic Complex will combine new construction and a complete renovation of Perboyre Hall, and will open for the fall semester of 2007 on the corner of Senior and Campus drives.

In keeping with the university’s mission of providing real-life educational experiences to its students, the Academic Complex will accommodate features that are integral to the professions of business and education. The
College of Business wing, the newly named Bisgrove Hall, includes a financial services laboratory or trading floor, a Bloomberg Room, a board room and conference center and centers for Logistics, Family Business, International Accounting and Entrepreneurship in its design.

The College of Education wing is designed to inspire a team building approach to education, and features teaching clusters that encourage student-faculty interaction and teaching labs that emulate the K-12 classroom setting and
foster teamwork.

The College of Education’s service to the community will be further enhanced with new facilities for its centers for Family Literacy and Family Counseling.

In support of the Academic Complex, Niagara University will raise:

- $6.5 million for the College of Business
- $8 million for the College of Education
- $2 million for overall classroom technology

The two wings will be linked by an atrium that will connect both colleges to form one complex and serve as the main entry and reception area.

SCIENCE CENTER AND BIOINFORMATICS: $16.5 MILLION

Research in science and technology advances so quickly, that everything from concepts to textbooks may become obsolete in the blink of the eye. The changing face of science education has led Niagara University to formally plan for and implement the construction of a new integrated sciences center.

This science center will be a building to celebrate the integration of the sciences with student-faculty research. Coupled with our existing dePaul Hall, science facilities at Niagara University will enrich our academic programs, help us compete even more favorably for top students, attract top-flight faculty dedicated to conduct collaborative and multidisciplinary research with students, provide state-of-the-art facilities for learning and research, and will encourage interaction between students and faculty.

The heart of the new building will contain a cutting-edge blending of teaching laboratories and teaching space to support research collaborations among faculty and students in biology, chemistry and physics as well as many other disciplines, in which science theory and practice come together. Faculty members will be able to combine lecture with laboratory practice, making the classroom experience hands-on and participatory. Students will be more significantly prepared for graduate level studies and to advance in the workforce.

The burgeoning field of bioinformatics is a newer program at Niagara University and is also supported by our campaign efforts.

Bioinformatics has already attracted partnerships leading to new programs within biological, biochemical, chemical and computational sciences. New lab resources have resulted in a first patent application by a Niagara faculty member, and also in new research partnerships with several major organizations including Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

To support capital projects for the sciences at Niagara University, and our visionary investment in the future, our goal is:
- $14.5 million for a new Science Center
- $2 million for Bioinformatics

ATHLETIC FACILITIES: $4 MILLION

Today’s student-athletes demand well-planned, ample athletic and recreational facilities in the same way they need modern classrooms, laboratories, learning areas for academic programs and housing, to prepare them for their careers. Niagara University plans to expand and enhance its athletic facilities and programs to ensure that our students and the entire community can experience the learning that occurs through sports and recreational activity participation and engagement.

We have made great strides in improving athletic facilities but we must do more to match our peer institutions’ facilities and programs.

Expanded athletic facilities will accommodate the increasing demands of the university’s 17 intercollegiate NCAA Division I varsity men’s and women’s sports, health and physical education, intramurals, health and wellness facilities, and related programming.

In support of athletic initiatives we will raise:

- $2 million for the renovation of the Kiernan Center.
- $2 million for Dwyer Arena Improvements

THEATRE: $1 MILLION : RENOVATION TO BEGIN MAY 2009

Theatre has played an important part in the life of Niagara University. What began as an extra-curricular activity, turned into creditbearing courses in theatre in the late 1960’s. In 1975 a concentration in Theatre Studies (under the Department of English) was created and in 1989 the state granted permission for a full Theatre Degree, a BFA in Theatre Arts.

Today, there are over 100 students majoring in theatre studies at the university and the theatre produces an average of eight productions a year on their main stage, “The Leary Theatre” in Clet Hall and at the Niagara University Theatre At-The-Church in Lewiston, New York. This second facility was purchased by the university in 2001.

As part of the university’s promise for the future, this campaign will dedicate $1 million for the complete renovation of the Leary Theatre.

For over 40 years Niagara University theatre has been a premier venue in Western New York, playing host to the best in music, dance and theatre, and entertaining and challenging students, faculty, and the local community.

VINCENTIAN RESIDENCE: $2.5 MILLION: OPENED DECEMBER 2008

The Vincentian Fathers and Brothers have served as stewards for Niagara University since 1856. Construction of the primary residence of the Vincentian Community which is known as Meade Hall was completed in 1926. It was rededicated in 1967 in honor of Rev. Francis L. Meade, C.M. who served as the 16th president of the university. Meade Hall is part of the historic spine of the university and has served its residents well for over 80 years.

Our vision for the future well-being of the Vincentians is to provide them with a new residence with modern and updated accessibility conveniences that are currently not available in Meade Hall. Meade Hall in turn will be renovated for university use. $2.5 million will be dedicated to the construction of a new residence for the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers.