Niagara University has been awarded a $1 million Higher Education Capital Matching Grant for upgrades and renovations to the Kiernan Center. Thirty-five institutions were awarded HECap grants ranging from $59,000 to $1 million.
The grant will help to fund renovations and upgrades to the Kiernan Center, the university’s multiuse facility and hub for on-campus intramural and club sports, recreational and wellness programming, and ROTC and community fitness activities. The scope of the work includes an 18,000-square-foot, two-story addition, which will house locker rooms and team meeting rooms for Division I and club sport teams; student programming space, including a dance studio; and expanded fitness/recreational areas.
“Providing excellent facilities for recreation, health, and wellness activities to our students is a core focus of our strategic plan,” said the Rev. James J. Maher, Niagara University president. “The HECap grant will enable us to make enhancements to our Kiernan Center that will provide a higher level of campus engagement for our students while they live and learn at Niagara University.”
The HECap grant applications are reviewed and scored by the New York State Higher Education Capital Investment Review Board, a three-member board whose members are appointed by the governor, the senate majority leader, and the assembly speaker. For every $1 in state matching funds, private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in New York must provide $3 in support of their projects.
It is expected that this project will take 14 months to complete.