Maritime College opens its new cadet dormitory.

The Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, a specialized college of the State University of New York, opened the East Wing of its new dormitory with 150 first- and second-class cadets moving in for the fall semester. Classes began August 30.

Financed and constructed through the Dormitory Authority, this is the first new building on the Maritime campus in 30 years. Construction was completed on a fast-track basis in just over 18 months.

Developed with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the dorm wing was completed on a fast-track basis in just over 18 months. Skanska USA Building Inc. was the general contractor, and the architect was Mach Architecture & Engineering, P.C.

"Opening our new residence hall in time for the fall term has been a tremendous achievement," noted Dr. Kimberly Cline, vice-president and chief operating officer at SUNY Maritime.

"It represents a collaborative effort on the part of all partners involved including college staff, DASNY officials, Skanska, Mach Architecture and SUNY who worked together to make this project a success. Completion of the west wing is expected by spring, ahead of the projected 2005 schedule."

The new residence hall is a four-story structure with a total of 300 dorm rooms in two wings. The building's masonry and stone facade complements the surrounding campus structures and Fort Schuyler's massive stone facade.

At the rear of the building, sections of glass curtainwall enable students to take in views of Long Island Sound while relaxing in any of the central lounges.

Assimilating the comforts of home, the new residence hall has been designed to meet the campus housing needs of today's student.

Fully air conditioned rooms, carpeted corridors and hallways, spacious bedrooms equipped with two data portals, a telephone outlet and a cable television connection, and complete laundry rooms are among the amenities. The project meets the criteria established by Governor George E. Pataki's Executive Order 111, which emphasizes energy conservation and "green building" design to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

On August 19, 45 specially invited alumni and friends of SUNY Maritime College received a sneak peek of the new dormitory.

After a "hard hat" tour, the guests then were served dinner in McMurray Hall and received a Presidential Update from Maritime's President, Vice Admiral John R. Ryan, USN (Ret).