BINGHAMTON, NY – Binghamton University now has a Center of Excellence building worthy of its title. University President Harvey G. Stenger on Wednesday joined with Sen. Thomas W. Libous, Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo, University faculty and staff, industry partners, community leaders and members of the public to celebrate the opening of a $30 million, 114,000-square-foot facility on Murray Hill Road in Vestal.

The Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging center (S3IP) and its interdisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists recently moved into the glass, metal and stone building. The facility joins the Engineering and Science Building and Biotechnology Building at the Innovative Technologies Complex. A fourth building, the Smart Energy Research and Development Facility, is under construction and expected to open in 2017.

New York state designated Binghamton’s Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging Center (S3IP) a Center of Excellence in 2006. The center connects industry and academia with a focus on systems integration and packaging of electronics to enable the manufacture of equipment and devices that improve the way people live and interact with their surroundings. Key research thrusts focus on electronics packaging, energy-smart electronic systems, flexible electronics, and energy harvesting and storage.

"We have provided infrastructure that will catalyze the advancements already being made by our researchers in the areas of microelectronics, data center energy optimization, battery storage, autonomous solar power, as well as advanced materials and sensors," Stenger said. "Collaboration is what brought us to this point in our research efforts. Collaboration and the right environment, this building, will lead to path-breaking technologies in the future."

Following the brief program inside the center’s Symposium Hall, Stenger ushered Libous and Lupardo and the rest of the attendees to the front entrance of the building. Two plaques were unveiled honoring the legislators’ work obtaining crucial state funding to build the research facility. Stenger said the project would not have been possible without the senator and assemblywoman’s support and their advocacy in Albany.

"Binghamton University is partnering with various industries, academic institutions and government to achieve something very important with the Center of Excellence — an investment in our community and economy," Libous said. "We set out to create opportunities for careers locally and we’ll see those opportunities continue to grow in this new facility."

"The opening of the Center of Excellence marks another milestone in the development of Binghamton University as a world-class research institution," said Lupardo. "This new state-of-the-art facility strengthens the collaborative work being done between government, industry and academia at Binghamton University. We are already seeing a positive impact on the local economy, as interdisciplinary teams develop products that will shape the future."

"Today gives us an opportunity to reflect on the work we’ve done so far, including the more than $1 billion in economic impact on New York state and the nearly 2,000 jobs the center has helped to create or retain since 1996," said Bahgat Sammakia, vice president for research and S3IP director. "Tomorrow, we’ll get back to doing what we do best: making electronics that are smaller, lighter, smarter, greener and faster than the ones you have now."

The Center of Excellence was designed by Binghamton University’s in-house architect, William Hall. It was built to LEED standards, and features energy efficient windows and skylights as well as a water retention system and the latest technology for heat recovery and humidity control. Guests at today’s event were provided tours so they could see firsthand some of these cutting-edge, energy-efficient design features.

The construction project generated nearly $16 million in economic impact and supported more than 180 jobs.