New STEM Education Center at North Campus

Challenge

As Saratoga County experienced rapid growth in healthcare, STEM, and advanced technology industries, Hudson Valley Community College recognized the need to expand access to higher education and workforce training. The college envisioned a new STEM Education Center that would transform its North Extension Center into a full-service campus, providing students with foundational coursework, state-of-the-art laboratories, academic support services, and flexible learning spaces closer to where they live and work. The project also needed to respect the natural setting of the Saratoga Technology and Energy Park (STEP), achieve LEED Silver certification, and create a building capable of adapting to future program growth.

Results

The new STEM Education Center has established HVCC North as a vibrant educational destination serving students pursuing careers in healthcare, STEM, and the skilled trades. Designed for flexibility, the two-story facility features adaptable classrooms, specialized teaching laboratories, collaborative gathering spaces, and shared faculty work areas that support a variety of instructional methods while accommodating future growth. A full basement provides capacity for expanding academic programs as needs evolve. Large expanses of glazing connect students to the surrounding forest, filling the building with natural daylight and reinforcing its relationship to the STEP campus. Sustainable features—including geothermal wells, solar hot water heating, and high-performance building systems—earned LEED Silver certification while creating a healthy learning environment. More importantly, the project expands affordable access to higher education, strengthens workforce development in one of New York’s fastest-growing technology corridors, and helps prepare the next generation of professionals for high-demand careers.