The Campus Center is the hub of student activity on the podium, offering dining options from fast food to sushi, including Wendy's, Zepps, Outtakes and Tim Hortons. It's also home to the University Bookstore, and student group offices like WCDB, the Student Association and the Albany Student Press, a ballroom, lounges and meeting venues.

Did you know?

The Campus Center, which is the main dining facility on campus, conducts more than 8,000 transactions each day.

The Life Sciences Research Building provides a venue for collaborative interactions among research scientists representing a broad range of scientific disciplines whose emphasis is on the structure, function and regulation of genes and biologically active molecules and materials.

Mark McCarty

One of four main quads on UAlbany’s campus, Colonial is located on the northwest side of campus, housing continuing students in suite-style living quarters. Special Interest Housing options on Colonial Quad include a sustainability-themed house. The Quad tower is 22 stories and 207’ feet tall.

Did you know?

Colonial Quad buildings were named after James DeLancey who served as lieutenant governor, the Province of New York, and Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense.

The West Garden, between Social Science and the Library, provides a green and sunny spot for UAlbany students to study.

Did you know?

The West Garden is approximately 31,000 square feet – roughly the size of New York Yankees’ shortstop, Derek Jeter’s Florida home.

The East Garden, located between Biology and the Performing Arts Center, offers a breath-taking scene in late April while the flowers are in bloom.

Did you know?

PJM Rhododendrons are the main flower inhabiting the garden, with nearly 600 planted there. These flowers provide the smell of spring in the East Garden.

Located in front of the Science Library, the Parents Fountain was named to honor the nearly 1,300 parents from the classes of 1999 through 2003 who generously donated to the Campaign for the Libraries.

Did you know?

There are about 4,000 gallons of water in the Parents Fountain.

Mark McCarty

UAlbany's Lecture Center hold classrooms equipped with the latest multimedia tools to enhance students' learning experience. The largest classroom holds 575 students.

Did you know?

The LCs host 21 classrooms.

The University Bookstore, located on the lower level of the Campus Center, stocks everything from textbooks and school supplies, to University apparel and gifts.

The Performing Arts Center (PAC) is home to the 500-seat Main Theater. In addition, there are three smaller theaters; a Recital Hall; a dance studio, band and choral rehearsal rooms; reference and music libraries; and a costume shop where more than 100 costumes are built each year.

Did you know?

The PAC was the last building on the academic podium to be completed in 1969.

Patrick Ferlo

The University Art Museum, designed by Edward Durell Stone, is one of the finest in the Northeast, with three galleries and over 9,000 square feet of exhibition space for six to eight changing exhibitions a year. The Museum's inaugural exhibition, "Paintings and Sculptures from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection," was displayed in 1967.

Did you know?

 In 2008, internationally-known artist Keith Edmier recreated the set of the 1970’s children’s television show “Ray Rayner & His Friends” in the museum.

UAlbany's University Library houses more than 1.6 million volumes (books). In its interactive media center, students can edit videos and create web sites. Today, our University Libraries rank among the top 100 research libraries in the United States.

Did you know?

 In December 1844, after the University’s first library opened in one room of a former train depot on State Street, the school received its first private donation—a bequest of $300—to purchase library books.

The Science Library opened on the uptown campus in 1999 to include the Science Library, the M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives and the Library Preservation Laboratory. Students may use its 16 group study rooms and computers in the Information Commons. The building also houses International Programs, the New York State Writers Institute and The Standish Room.

Did you know?

UAlbany’s enduring symbol Minerva which stands in the lobby of the Science Library was rescued from a fire by a custodian in 1906.

The Academic Podium comprises 13 three-story buildings: College of Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Physics, Earth Science & Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry. Designed by American architect Edward Durell Stone, the Podium features towers, domes, soaring colonnades and a sweeping canopy. It is the second largest poured concrete structure in the world-- second only to the Pentagon.

Did You Know?

Students coined the word "podiating" or the verb “to podiate” to describe informally relaxing on the podium.