Our WorkSUNY Potsdam Facilities Master Plan

Design Brief

Project Location: Potsdam, NY

Leveraging a picturesque landscape, an evolving campus community, and a diverse range of academic offerings, SUNY Potsdam is a historic institution in Northern New York and one of the founding members of the SUNY System. In collaboration with the campus and the State University Construction Fund, A|r developed the Facilities Masterplan to align the 258-acre campus with current enrollment realities and the College’s evolving academic mission through 2033.

While the physical campus was designed to support a growing student population, enrollment trends over the past decade have reshaped institutional space needs. Grounded in a comprehensive analysis of space utilization and campus operations, the plan establishes a clear strategy to “find the campus within the campus,” addressing surplus space through right-sizing, adaptive reuse, and selective demolition or decommissioning.

Positioned at a pivotal moment, the master plan prioritizes targeted reinvestment in the campus core to enhance student experience, improve operational efficiency, and support enrollment and retention goals. By sequencing high-impact, fiscally responsible improvements and reinforcing SUNY Potsdam’s distinctive identity, the plan provides a flexible framework for long-term revitalization and sustained institutional resilience.