Anchor: One of Syracuse’s oldest buildings has undergone a multimillion-dollar facelift. N-C-C’s Caleb Spinner is at SUNY Upstate with the story.
Caleb S. Spinner, reporter: SUNY Upstate’s College of Health Professions has made its home in Silverman Hall since the early 19-80s. Originally opening as ‘City Hospital’ in 19-26, the building had begun to deteriorate in recent years. Dr. Katherine Beissner, the college’s dean, says saying goodbye to Silverman was not an option.
Dr. Katherine Beissner, Dean: We always knew we had to do something with Silverman Hall. This is a historic building. We knew we couldn’t tear it down.
Caleb S. Spinner, reporter: As Silverman began to show its age, calls to update the building began to gain momentum.
Dr. Katherine Beissner, Dean: We would have flooding in the basement. We had security problems. We had people coming in and sleeping all around the building and it couldn’t get it fixed. So those things really kept elevating the urgency to do the renovation.
Caleb S. Spinner, reporter: Nine years and 18 million dollars later, Silverman Hall is the newest gem on Upstate’s campus.
Dr. Katherine Beissner, Dean: It’s just tremendous. It’s better than I could have possibly expected. Honestly, I still get tingly when I come in here.
Caleb S. Spinner, reporter: Caleb Spinner, N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — A local medical college is getting a multi-million dollar facelift after almost a century.
Upstate Medical University shared images Tuesday on social media of its $18 million additions to the College of Health Professions. The college is located in Silverman Hall, which first opened its doors as “City Hospital” back in 1926.
Dr. Katherine Beissner, the college’s dean, recalled the dank conditions in which students used to work.
“Imagine this: there were hospital rooms on either side of a narrow corridor here,” Beissner said. “There was no light in the hallway. It was dark, it was dreary inside here.”
This fall will begin the first academic year in which students will have access to the updated building. Beissner said she is still amazed by the renovations.
“It’s just tremendous,” Beissner said. “It’s better than I could have expected. Honestly, I still get tingly when I come in here. It just makes me so happy.”
