Fordham University has received a $100 million grant to build a new STEM building. The gift is courtesy of Maurice Cunniffe, FCRH ’54, and Dr. Carolyn Dursi Cunniffe, Ph.D., GSAS ’71, and is the largest in the university’s history. Fordham plans to use the gift to break ground on the building, which will be built where the surface parking lot is currently.
This building is part of Fordham’s plan to improve its STEM program to make the university more competitive.
“Fordham envisions a future where its distinctive STEM programs will make Fordham a top choice for students, faculty and industry partners who want to ignite discovery, drive innovation and address complex global challenges,” said Roger Milici, Jr., PAR ’22, vice president for development and university relations.
Plans for the facility have been in the works for nine months, but it is not yet known when construction will begin.
“We don’t have a firm start date at this time, but the construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months,” said Marco Valera, vice president for administration.
According to Milici, the building is expected to cost more than $500 million.
“Our fundraising team will prioritize this project in the coming years, and we have already secured additional 7-figure gifts for the future building,” he said.
The new building will house labs, classrooms, research facilities, a vivarium, rooftop greenhouses and a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Currently, Fordham’s STEM program resides in John Mulcahy Hall (JMH) and Larkin Hall. According to Valera, those buildings will be repurposed, but there is no current plan at this time.
The construction is expected to be relatively noninvasive to campus life.
“Most of the work is confined to the parking lot, but it’s likely there will be some work on campus,” said Valera. “For example, running electrical lines to the site may require opening up a road.”
Beyond the new facility, Fordham aims to expand STEM inclusion at all three campuses. The university plans to expand the Lincoln Center campus’s computer science program and is launching a master of sciences in physicians assistant studies program.
“Approximately 48% of college-bound U.S. high school students seek to pursue a STEM major,” said Milici. “The future of Science education is at the intersection of STEM disciplines, so this facility will permit that type of pedagogy, and will allow Fordham to leverage its existing strengths in ethics, humanities, law and business.”
