Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation | in the media

Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation

in the media

President of UNH joins News 8 with sneak peek of brand new science center designed with help from students by: WTNH Staff Posted: Aug 24, 2020 / 09:24 PM EDT / Updated: Aug 24, 2020 / 09:24 PM EDT

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The University of New Haven is expanding in a big way. News 8 went one-on-one with the university’s president, Dr. Steven Kaplan for a sneak peek of the brand new Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation building set to open Tuesday.

This has been in the making for some time. What will we find when we walk through the front door? How did you go about figuring out what this building should look like? Did you travel to other schools to pick the best of what they had built in their innovation buildings?

The answers to those questions and more in the video above.

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University of New Haven Opens New Building Bergami Center Features New Tech, Science Labs WTIC-HFD (FOX) 8/25/2020 11:30:19 PM

WTIC-HFD (FOX) 8/26/2020 6:59:49 AM

advanced collaborative classrooms, engineering and science labs, video production studios, a makerspace, and an esports training and competition space dubbed ‘The Stable,’” officials said in a release Tuesday.

It was made possible by $20 million in donations and pledges from alumni, staff and others, officials said. According to release, the building was named in recognition of “longtime university benefactors” Samuel S. Bergami Jr. and Lois Bergami. Bergami Jr. is president, CEO and co-owner of Alinabal Holdings Corp., which manufactures specialized technology, an alumnus and a member of the school’s board.

Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media File

‘Designed to foster an innovative spirit’: University of New Haven to open $35 million technology center

By Ben Lambert Published 1:44 pm EDT, Tuesday, August 25, 2020

WEST HAVEN — The University of New Haven will hold a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremonyTuesday for the school’s new $35 million Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation, which will offer classes and creative endeavors in an effort to prepare “the next generation of leaders and problem solvers to excel in the careers of the future.”

The Bergami Center, a 45,000-square-foot building that now is the largest on campus, features “the most technologically

“This building’s state-of-the-art science learning spaces, its technologically advanced ‘smart’ classrooms, and all of its additional pioneering features will provide an exceptional environment for our students to learn, create, and collaborate with each other,” said university President Steven Kaplan in the release. “Most importantly, it will provide even more opportunities for our students to develop the same forward-thinking mindset that Sam [Bergami] has demonstrated throughout

Philanthropist Sam Bergami speaks at the University of New Haven in West Haven in February 2020. his distinguished career. I am most grateful for Sam and Lois’s support, which is making this important initiative a reality.”

The virtual ribbon-cutting, expected to begin at 5:30 p.m., will feature remarks from Kaplan, Bergami Jr., and junior communication major Tiara Starks, followed by a conversation featuring theoretical physicist, futurist and best-selling author Michio Kaku.

The ceremony will be highlighted by a virtual tour of the new facility, which will be open to students of all disciplines, and is “expected to be attended by hundreds of university faculty, staff, students, donors and alumni,” officials said.

“The facility and the area around the building were designed to foster an innovative spirit throughout the university community that encourages students — from across all majors — to visit the Bergami Center to collaborate, conceive, and create,” officials said.

UNH unveils new $35M tech and innovation building

By Natalie Missakian August 26, 2020

It aims to become an innovation hub for students across all majors to “learn, create and collaborate with each other,” UNH President Steven H. Kaplan said.

“Most importantly, it will provide even more opportunities for our students to develop the same forward-thinking mindset that Sam [Bergami] has demonstrated throughout his distinguished career,” Kaplan said. “I am grateful for Sam and Lois’ support, which is making this important initiative a reality.”

Samuel Bergami is the former president of Milford manufacturer Alinabal Holdings Inc., and he founded Saber Electrical Supply and Milford Electrical Contractors in Milford.

Photo: Courtesy UNH

University of New Haven students returning to campus this week will be taking science and technology courses in a new $35 million building.

UNH held a virtual grand opening of its 45,000-square-foot Bergami Center for Science, Technology and Innovation on Tuesday evening, a day after the first students began using the new facility.

Named for Samuel S. Bergami Jr. and Lois Bergami, who have been staunch UNH benefactors for decades, the building is located next to the Tagliatela College of Engineering.

The building, now the largest on campus, features high-tech collaborative classrooms, engineering and science labs, video production studios, a makerspace and an esports training and competition space.

Bergami was also the chief benefactor behind the university’s new Samuel S. Bergami Jr. Cybersecurity Center, which UNH unveiled in February.

The science building was the centerpiece of a major university fundraising campaign over the last four years. The Bergamis along with hundreds of alumni, faculty and staff members donated $20 million toward the cost of the science building, with university capital covering the rest.

The building will be LEED Gold certified, meaning the design incorporated significant green building elements. These include using regional materials and incorporating natural daylight, rainwater gardens and underground stormwater retention and more, UNH said.

New Haven-based architectural firm Svigals + Partners designed the building. It was built by Consigli Construction, which has an office in Hartford.