The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SoPPS) educates and trains future pharmacists and pharmaceutical research scientists. It is the only pharmacy school in the State University of New York (SUNY) system.

Over 40% stay in Western New York and 67% remain in New York State.

The School will move into this new building to grow its programs and increase the number of student trainees. Currently there is a national shortage of pharmacists as well as shortages of highly trained scientists who understand how medications are processed through the body allowing for the discovery of new dugs and therapies. The ability to educate more students will increase the number of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in New York State and Western New York.

The renovation of the former Acheson Hall, recently renamed John Kapoor Hall, is part of a much larger and ongoing effort to reinvest in UB’s South Campus. Already, the university has invested tens of millions of dollars in the basic infrastructure of the campus, replacing roofs, steam tunnels, electric power systems, sidewalks, and roadways, with plans in the works for renovations of Townsend, Wende, and Kimball Halls.

This project is historic since it will be the first professional school to move from the North Campus in Amherst to the South Campus since 1970 and represents a major step forward in our efforts to implement UB2020.

Under the emerging Comprehensive Physical Plan, one basic principle has already been established: all three of UB’s campuses – North, South, and Downtown – will grow and improve through each step of plan implementation. Whichever alternatives are chosen in the master plan process, UB will continue to fully inhabit the historic Main Street campus, generating activity on campus, life in the neighborhood, and patronage in the shops and restaurants of University Heights.

Faculty, staff and students (primarily professional and graduate students) occupy the building. This new influx of professionals will lead to increased patronage of local businesses and vendors, adding to the vibrancy of the neighborhoods near the UB South Campus.

The SoPPS anticipates that approximately 700 Pharmacy faculty, staff, and professional and graduate students will move into the new building. The building has two centrally scheduled lecture halls that will accommodate approximately 460 students on a daily basis.

Activities in the building will include teaching, research, continuing education programs for pharmacists, as well as wellness clinics and patient education programs for the public. It will be occupied seven days a week with peak occupancy Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm.

Interior demolition of the former Acheson Hall will begin spring of 2008 with completion projected for late 2008. New construction in the building is projected to begin late winter/early spring of 2009 with completion targeted for end of 2010. Building occupancy will occur summer of 2011 with classes beginning August 2011.

The former Acheson Hall is designed and will be built following the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system. The United States Green Building council created and promotes this building system.

The LEED system creates healthier work and living environments, contributes to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort. Direct LEED benefits include improvement of air and water quality as well as noise reduction from machines and equipment. These benefits will have large positive impact on the faculty, staff and students as well as local community neighbors.

The building will achieve LEED Silver certification, which is a tremendous achievement for a laboratory building. Achieving this status allows occupants natural daylight throughout the building, enhanced control over room temperatures and improved air handling systems thus reinforcing the University’s commitment to carbon neutrality.

The construction site will be fenced off for the safety of the school and construction workers. A temporary lighted walkway will be provided around the construction site and University police will have an increased presence during and after construction.

Questions about the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences move to John Kapoor Hall can be addressed to the Rebecca Brierley, Director, Office of External Affairs, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 716-645-6965 or brierley@buffalo.edu. You can also fill out this form to submit a question or concern online.