BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Niagara Partnership named Canisius University an Economic Champion for 2025. The award program honors businesses and individuals whose initiatives help drive economic growth through job creation, business development and community investment. Canisius was recognized for investing more than $6 million in capital improvements to campus during 2025. These projects created jobs for local contractors and construction workers while modernizing educational spaces to better serve students. Major investments included:
Golisano Center for Student Success – A transformational $4.4 million renovation is underway on the second floor of the Bouwhuis Library, encompassing 30,000 square feet of collaborative workspace and dedicated zones for academic achievement, career development, and student wellness services. Made possible by a $5 million gift from Rochester philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano, the center is scheduled to open in spring 2026.
Hyflex Classroom Modernization (pictured) – The university invested $750,000 to convert administrative suites in Old Main into state-of-the-art "hyflex" classrooms featuring mobile furniture, interactive whiteboards and advanced audiovisual systems. This first-phase project marks the beginning of a multiphase plan to upgrade approximately 45,000 square feet of the historic academic building.
Science Hall Classrooms – Multiple academic programs found new homes in Science Hall, including the Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation (ABEC) program and the Kinesiology Department. The university repurposed and upgraded laboratory and classroom spaces to meet modern teaching and research needs. The building also welcomed Unapologetic Coffee, a Black, women-owned business founded by Canisius alumnae Alicia Officer '10, MS '11 and Alisa Officer '10, MS '11.
Athletics and Wellness Facilities – New spaces were created to support the university's acrobatics and tumbling program, along with a wellness studio in Palisano Pavilion for dance, exercise and meditation.
Additional projects included the relocation of the Vogt Family Student Art Gallery to the Winter Student Center, upgrades to Bagen Hall's interior and landscaping, and improvements to common areas across campus.
"These investments reflect our belief that when we strengthen our campus, we strengthen our community," said President Steve Stoute. "Canisius University is proud to play an active role in the region’s economic development by working with local contractors, creating jobs and supporting Buffalo-based businesses like Unapologetic Coffee."
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is the region’s chamber of commerce and economic development. It works to mobilize members and strategic partners to grow private investment and jobs in Western New York through advocacy, business development and community convening.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
