Listen to this articleElected officials joined St. Joseph’s University administrators and staff Friday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s new $17 million Student Center.
Construction began in late 2021 on the first new building at St. Joseph’s Patchogue campus in 18 years. The two-story, 32,000-square-foot Student Center features a dining area with food services provided by Lessing’s Hospitality Group, art gallery, chapel, veterans lounge, gift shop, Esports unit, computer and lounge spaces, conference and meeting rooms, and offices for faculty, staff and student clubs.
St. Joseph’s worked in concert with the Town of Brookhaven and the Village of Patchogue on the development, which also included a new sewer component. Among the sustainable features of the new Student Center are solar shading devices, daylight and occupancy light controls, low flow plumbing fixtures, and a continuous air barrier that limits air infiltration, according to the university.
“I am thrilled to announce the grand opening of our new Student Center,” said Donald R. Boomgaarden, president of St. Joseph’s University. “It is a much needed and welcome addition to our Long Island campus and will be a home away from home for our students and community. Over the last few years, we have watched with anticipation as the building came together and I am overjoyed to now see our students enjoy this space and all of the amenities it has to offer.”
Founded in 1916 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the school became a university last year having received the approval of the New York State Board of Regents. With campuses in Patchogue and Brooklyn, St. Joseph’s has an enrollment of nearly 5,000 students and offers degrees in more than 60 majors, special courses and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs.
