Resolving an issue that dates back at least 15 years, the administration has decided that the School of Architecture and Planning will remain on the South Campus in renovated space in Hayes and Crosby halls, rather than move into a new building on the North Campus.

A committee formed to study the issue had recommended that the school remain in its current home in the historic Hayes and Crosby halls.

	The School of Architecture and Planning will remain in historic Hayes and Crosby halls on the South Campus.
photo: Bob Walion

"The School of Architecture and Planning is in a great building now, in terms of historic significance, and with suitable renovation, it will have wonderful facilities and considerably more space than we could realistically afford in a new building on the North Campus," said Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi. "The school interacts a lot with the community, and they are closer to that constituency where they are. And the faculty wanted to stay where they are.

"All of these considerations made the decision to have the school stay on the South Campus a relatively easy one," she said.

As the last non-health-sciences unit left on the South Campus, the common wisdom over the years, as well as various long-term master construction plans, had suggested that Architecture and Planning eventually would move into showcase quarters to be built on the North Campus. Although frequently talked about, the plan never had moved beyond that point, and a new building was not included in the last five-year capital construction cycle.

When Capaldi arrived at UB last summer, she determined that a definitive decision on the matter should be made, said John Sheffer, director of the Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth and former interim dean of the architecture school.

Sheffer agreed, noting that the indecision on the issue had "caused frustration and tension" in the school.

A committee composed of staff from Facilities, administrators, and faculty, staff and students studied the issue for several months last fall, recommending that the school remain where it is, given that the cost of renovating Hayes and Crosby-which would include substantial infrastructure improvements, as well as work to meet programmatic needs-likely would equal that of constructing a "signature" building and that the architecture-school community preferred to remain on South Campus.

Sheffer pointed out that the school's preference for South Campus was contingent on the renovations to Hayes and Crosby being "real and substantial, and not just cosmetic."

He also noted that Hayes and Crosby are historic buildings-the Hayes clocktower is a symbol of the university-that are located in the city. Moreover, it was important that the school not become another entity moving out of the City of Buffalo, he said, adding that no other use had been identified for the buildings should the school leave.

"I believe strongly it is a good decision to leave the school on the South Campus, in the city, directly engaged with the community," he said.

"It's important to get on with it (renovations) as soon as possible and do a really substantial and innovative job of renovating these buildings into a 21st century School of Architecture and Planning."

Ann Newman, director of space planning in the Office of the Provost, said the next step in the process would be to hire a consultant to plan the renovation work. She said she anticipates the actual construction work being done as part of the next five-year funding cycle for capital projects that will begin in 2003.