SUNY Canton to Celebrate Newest Residence Hall

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SUNY Canton will celebrate the grand opening of its new Grass River Suites at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the residence hall's location adjacent to the Cooper Service Complex.

CANTON, NY (09/16/2011)(readMedia)-- SUNY Canton will be sweetening the grand opening of the Grasse River Suites Residence Hall with an ice cream social.

The SUNY Canton Foundation and the Grasse River, LLC, will be holding a ribbon-cutting celebration for its newest residence hall at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the Grasse River Suites. Free ice cream will be available after the ceremony.

The residence hall opened to students at the beginning of the Fall 2011 semester, adding much needed on-campus housing at the College. Guided tours of the facility will be available.

"There has been a great deal of interest and excitement surrounding our newest buildings," said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. "The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held to showcase the beautiful new building and successful work of our foundation staff and our partnership with the Grasse River, LLC."

The apartment-style complex has more than 300 beds grouped into 83 independent living suites and is adjacent to the Cooper Service Complex. The residence hall is designed primarily for upper class students and includes a mini-store, multi-purpose classroom, and an open courtyard for recreation and outdoor activities.

The $26 million project was financed through bonds secured by a partnership created with the Town of Canton and the Canton Capital Resource Corporation. The Grasse River Suites were constructed without any state funding or taxpayer resources.

"The College and greater Canton community both benefit from our newest residence hall," noted Vice President for Advancement David M. Gerlach. "The building adds to the appeal of our campus and expands its four-year housing options, which will attract more students to the area. Each of those students will spend more time locally and our businesses and communities will continue to grow and thrive. And because these 305 students benefit from having kitchens in their suites and are only on partial meal plans, they will be shopping at local grocery stores and eating at local restaurants even more than most students."

Northland Associates of Liverpool was the general contractor for the LEED Silver Certified building. Many area subcontractors were hired to help complete the project.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is the latest in a string of grand opening celebrations across SUNY Canton. The College recently celebrated a Taco Bell and KFC Express located next to the existing Jreck's Subs in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center. Staff members are currently planning a grand opening for the Roos House Athletic Center.

SUNY Canton offers 21 career-driven bachelor's degrees in addition to its associate and certificate programs. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 150 courses online each semester. The College's athletic teams belong to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The College is home to a brand-new athletic facility, nicknamed Roos House, and the Grasse River Suites, offering students single rooms in apartment-style settings while they live on campus.

-www.canton.edu-