The University of New Haven yesterday broke ground on its first new academic building in four decades: the Bergami Center for Science, Technology & Innovation.
“Much more than a traditional science building,” according to UNH President Steven H. Kaplan, the structure is designed to function as an interdisciplinary space housing engineering and science laboratories, a 3-D visualization technology suite, “maker space” and collaborative classrooms, seminar and support facilities.
The $45 million structure, scheduled for completion in early 2020, is named for benefactors Sam and Lois Bergami. The latter, who is president and CEO of Alinabel Inc. of Milford, a manufacturer of precision bearings, earned an executive MBA degree from UNH in 1985 and has served on the university’s Board of Governors.
The 44,000-square-foot, three-story structure was designed by the New Haven architectural firm Svigals & Partners and is being built by Consigli Construction of Hartford.
The Bergami Center will house “tools and resources to allow students to work with our industry partners to create new and exciting products,” Kaplan said.
The new structure represents the cornerstone of UNH’s $100 million fundraising campaign, the Charger Challenge, planned to culminate with the university’s centennial celebration in 2020.
“I see this as a building that will embody everything that we have stood for since the university’s founding almost 100 years ago,” said Kaplan. “It will be the heartbeat of this university as it moves boldly into the future, enriching our community in countless ways for the decades to come and serving as a physical environment that reflects the dreams and ambitions of our students.”
Contact Michael C. Bingham at mbingham@newshavenbiz.com
