NEW YORK— The first two phases of a three-phase, $1.86 million renovation and upgrade have been completed on the research laboratories and medical facilities at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry. The new facilities are located within a 300,000-square-foot, 18-story main college building.

The project team includes Perkins Eastman Architects, general contractor Stalco Construction and Syska Hennessy Group as the MEP engineer. Phase I included a conversion of an old, 1,500-square-foot laboratory space into two labs featuring easily adaptable lab furniture systems and utility connections that allow for floor plan revisions depending on research needs. Phase II consisted of renovations and an expansion of an additional research area and faculty offices. The final third phase will consist of a new surgery suite, including surgery preparation, post-op, and procedure rooms as well as two bathrooms.

“The modernized laboratories will allow our faculty, post-doctoral scholars, and graduate students to continue the groundbreaking research efforts that have placed the SUNY College of Optometry among the leading vision research institutions in the country,” said the college’s president, David A. Heath, OD.