Campus Construction Disrupts Students' Daily Routines
By Isabelle Veloz
Facilities management at Purchase College has begun a number of projects planned in spring 2026 that have continued into fall 2026. Some projects pertain to improving campus accessibility, exterior restoration of buildings, conversion of spaces and other pending projects.
Construction on four parking lots across campus has required shutting down some pathways and creating new temporary pathways and parking alternatives.
Capital Facilities Planning has begun working on the Central 2 parking lot, continues to work on the West 3 parking lot and has begun work in the East 2 and East 3 parking lots. Students and faculty have been advised to park in specific sections within parking lots and in other lots, such as the East 1 parking lot.
Ryan Hobson, an English major, said, “My assigned parking is East 2 and East 3. I know that they have recently opened the East 1 parking lot for us, but it's still very much a far walk, and it's very hard to find parking.” Hobson continued, “I'm annoyed. I'm very much annoyed. I don't know why they decided to do this construction now. This is a very, very inconvenient time.”
Sean Connolly, associate director of Capital Facilities Planning, notes that some projects are large in scope and can’t be completed within the summer months.
He said, “When we do need to continue into the semesters, [we] look for ways to limit noise and disturbances to campus programs. This includes starting construction activities that are loud, near our residence halls and apartments, at 9 a.m. instead of 7 a.m.”
Dylan Reyes, a studio production major, said, “Trying to pull back into these parking lots when there's that much construction, you're accounting for construction crews and people there and equipment and fences that were not there years before to anticipate the flow of traffic coming out of this parking lot.”
Reyes continued, “It definitely can get really, really hectic. The East parking lots are the worst. There's obviously some stuff going on in the West or whatever, but, like, these [parking lots] near Fort Awesome and the freshman dorms, it's so cooked, dude. Like, I parked here not too long ago, and I was like, ‘I don't know what's happening.’”
Henry Woytysiak, a senior, said, “Oh, my God. I really dislike the way they go about it, because I feel as if they choose the worst times to do it, and the actual projects they do choose to do, I feel like it’s just poor management.” They continued, “The parking lot, they just had to work on that right now. I just don't get it. Maybe they're trying to work on a water main or like a waterline underneath it, but why didn't you do that over the summer?”
Connolly notes that efforts to minimize disruption on campus are not always perfect.
“We need to balance the need to keep our great programs and classes running, while also making much-needed upgrades and improvements to the campus.”
Connolly explained that construction updates are available on the Purchase College website under Capital Facilities Planning. “We try to keep the campus community informed of what is happening and the impacts, along with what to expect as far as any disruptions.”
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