August 15, 2024
On Wednesday, August 14, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul visited St. John’s University’s Queens, NY, campus for a sneak preview of the soon-to-be-opened St. Vincent Health Sciences Center. The new $106-million, 70,000-square-foot academic building is a state-of-the-art facility for existing and future health sciences programs. The building opens for classes on Wednesday, September 4.
“With continued investments in New York’s colleges and universities, we’re helping our premier educational institutions remain on the cutting edge of educational opportunities,” Governor Hochul said.
In a day-long series of events held throughout “The World’s Borough,” the 57th governor of the Empire State was joined on campus by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.; New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky; New York State Assemblymember Nily Rozic; and Hope Knight, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Commissioner of Empire State Development.
Upon arriving at the sun-splashed campus, Gov. Hochul stopped at Taffner Field House to mingle with random students playing basketball.
She greeted Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s University, by asking, “How’s the team look this year?”
“We’re excited,” responded Fr. Shanley, pointing out the “We Are New York’s Team” moniker emblazoned on the wall.
The future renovation of Taffner Field House aims to create a best-in-class campus recreation center for the entire University community. The Taffner project is part of a $3-million New York State Higher Education Facilities Capital Matching Grant that will be used to help finance the construction of a new state-of-the-art basketball practice facility adjacent to Gate 4 (175th Street and Union Turnpike). The new facility will serve the everyday needs of the Red Storm’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs.
Gov. Hochul then took a motorcade through the bucolic campus, entering the garden level of St. Vincent Health Sciences Center. She greeted local contractors concluding their shifts that involved putting some of the final pieces of the premier building in place.
Brian Baumer, Associate Vice President, Department of Campus Facilities and Services, led a tour of the new building, beginning with the geothermal mechanical room. He shared how the energy-efficient building will be heated and cooled using a geothermal field, which features 66 wells drilled 499 feet below ground. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that comes from reservoirs of hot water beneath the earth’s surface. With innovative efforts at improved sustainability, the increased use of geothermal energy decreases fossil fuel use and resulting greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr. Baumer recounted to Gov. Hochul how the early planning and design of the building took place remotely during the global pandemic when business interruption and supply chain issues were the norm.
“It is a St. John’s miracle that we delivered this building on time,” he shared as they walked into a sun-kissed Dorothea and Nickolas Davatzes Atrium, named in memory of Nickolas “Nick” Davatzes ’62C, ’64G, ’95HON, Trustee Emeritus, cable television pioneer, and husband of the late Dorothea “Dorie” Hayes Davatzes ’66Ed.
Fr. Shanley shared with the visiting delegation that St. John’s used local and Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises throughout the project, paid prevailing wages, and values the impact the University makes in the local and state economy. “These construction projects help fuel New York’s economic engine—and that is part of our role at St. John’s.”
Moving on to the Skills and Assessment Flex Lab, Gov. Hochul greeted nursing students and from there crossed the hallway and walked through the radiological laboratory/X-ray room before moving upstairs to the first-floor, high-fidelity simulation labs; hospital rooms; and other learning spaces.
Introducing several students from the Physician Assistant program, Anne Y. F. Lin ’84P, ’86Pharm.D., FNAP, Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, explained how the technology and resources in the building usher in a new educational era at St. John’s. The state-of-the-art facility and equipment are designed to train future generations of health-care providers and caregivers—not just for today’s conditions, but for tomorrow’s unimagined needs.
“This is as close to the real experience as you can possibly get,” remarked Gov. Hochul. As the tour concluded, she commended the University for making investments in the present and future of higher education in New York. “This is exciting. Very impressive, St. John’s.”
Construction of the St. Vincent Health Sciences Center was funded by a mix of private philanthropic support and public funds. St. John’s secured a $5-million New York State Higher Education Capital Matching Grant and a $700,000 Empire State Development grant from Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Councils initiative. The center is partially funded by a $1.25-million federal appropriation from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration secured by Representative Gregory W. Meeks in the US House of Representatives and Senator Charles E. Schumer in the US Senate.
University Board of Trustees member Margaret LaRosa D’Angelo ’70Ed, ’22HON and her husband, Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Peter P. D’Angelo ’78MBA, ’06HON, generous alumni and longtime benefactors to St. John’s University, pledged a $20 million donation—the largest single gift in the University’s history—to support the center’s construction. Their support directed $15 million toward construction and five million dollars to the University’s most critical needs.