75,000-Square-Foot Facility Houses Hofstra Northwell Nursing and PA Studies, Engineering and Computer Science Programs
$27M in State Funds Supports Future Workforce in Science and Health Care
President Susan Poser, Empire State Development CEO Hope Knight, and community leaders today celebrated the completion of Hofstra University’s $75 million, energy-efficient Science & Innovation Center on Hofstra’s South Campus. The 75,000-square-foot center is a shared facility for the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies and the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science. With this state-of-the-art facility, Hofstra University will provide students with a dynamic STEM education that will shape the next generation of scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals. Empire State Development supported this project with a $25 million capital grant as part of the Transformative Investment Program funding allocated to Long Island and $2 million from the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council (LIREDC).
Hofstra President Susan Poser said, “Hofstra University is excited to open the Science & Innovation Center, the newest and largest classroom and academic building on campus. This state-of-the-art facility, with its high-tech, cutting-edge equipment, will offer the most up-to-date education and training for the engineers and nurses of tomorrow, helping to meet the workforce goals and economic growth of Long Island and New York state.”
“The Hofstra Science & Innovation Center marks a pivotal moment in academia, where we are not just opening doors but building bridges to a brighter future by empowering students with real-world skills,” said Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight. “The center will have a profound impact as graduates emerge as highly capable leaders across STEM fields, ready to meet the evolving demands of our dynamic world with their fresh perspectives. By investing in hands-on, cross-disciplinary learning, we are ensuring the innovators solving tomorrow’s greatest challenges begin their journey here.”
The Science & Innovation Center is a union-built, modern facility that fosters dynamic learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The center offers Hofstra students immersive, hands-on experiences across STEM fields.
Chair of the Hofstra Board of Trustees Donald Schaeffer said, “Hofstra University’s Science & Innovation Center is an investment in the future of Long Island and New York state. It is an example of Hofstra’s commitment to evolving and growing as a leader in higher education to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow.”
Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies:
The Science & Innovation Center will help future Northwell nurses and physician assistants prepare for today’s hospital environment with the most up-to-date simulation experiences available. In addition to modern flexible classrooms, a full surgical simulation wing, clinical skills and patient care labs, and two simulated operating room spaces concentrating on cardiac profusion and anesthesia, bring experiential learning to life. The labs are equipped with high-fidelity mannequins (simulated patients) controlled by a sophisticated console behind a two-way mirror, providing an immersive hospital simulation.
“Our new learning space in the Science & Innovation Center is the embodiment of Michael Dowling’s vision and the Hofstra Northwell partnership,” said Renee McLeod-Sordjan, dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. “It is a beacon of quality healthcare education for students studying medicine, nursing, cardiopulmonary perfusion, and physician assistant studies – leveraging the latest technology and the tremendous resources of Northwell Health’s network of facilities, team members, and mentors. Today we celebrate its opening, and we look forward to tomorrow, where we can do the important work of saving and improving lives.”
“It’s gratifying to see this idea – creating a state-of-the-art nursing and PA learning facility – come to life,” said Kathleen Gallo, founding dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. “Three years ago, when we started the undergraduate nursing program at Hofstra, we envisioned being able to bring the Northwell experience to campus and provide specialized hands-on simulation learning. We leveraged the expertise at the Center for Learning and Innovation at Northwell, as they have been the national leaders in this area for over two decades. Today, with that vision realized, Hofstra Northwell will be able to produce the most qualified nurses for the Northwell Health network or wherever they practice in the future. I’m humbled to have played a part.”
Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science:
In the Science & Innovation Center, engineering and computer science students will benefit from the latest in technology for their studies. Brand-new labs focused on big data, robotics, computer architecture, UNIX systems and graphics, virtual reality, and other computer science-related fields are available for classes, research, and experimentation. Additionally, a bioengineering lab, a tissue culture facility, and an industrial engineering manufacturing lab are now housed in the new building. The center also boasts a large makerspace to facilitate student prototyping, equipped with tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters.
“This is more than just a building,” said Sina Rabbany, dean of the DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science. “It’s a hub of possibilities fusing cutting-edge technology, academic excellence, and collaboration, which is at the heart of innovation. Our engineering and computer science programs grow every year, and this facility will transform the way our students engage with course materials. As we prepare the next generation of scientists, builders, coders, and most importantly problem-solvers – giving them the best tools will produce the best results.”
To ensure the Science & Innovation Center is able to provide the most advanced computation and data-intensive workloads, the DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science has secured a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
The funding will be used to acquire a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster that includes a graphical processing unit (GPU), supporting not just Hofstra University, but neighboring Adelphi University and Nassau Community College as well.
“To prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s high-tech environment, we need the fastest and most sophisticated computer processing available,” said Edward Currie, associate professor of engineering and principal investigator on the grant project. “This isn’t just about computer sciences – this HPC cluster is vital for classroom instruction and research in STEM fields, including biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering.”
New York’s Future Professionals:
Hofstra University’s Science & Innovation Center lays the foundation for graduates to emerge as pioneering leaders and innovators in diverse fields such as biotechnology, engineering, and health care. New York state’s investment energizes the region’s 21st-century workforce to address the pressing challenges of our modern era. As science and technology continue to transform our world, New York is investing in its students to ensure they are at the forefront of positive change. With the state’s support, the center fosters a dynamic learning environment where New York’s best young minds can gain the experience needed to meet pressing needs in engineering, biotech, medicine, and beyond. This transformative investment in education will pay dividends by cultivating New York’s 21st-century workforce.
“As we celebrate the inauguration of Hofstra’s Science & Innovation Center, we ignite a beacon of progress, illuminating the path toward an education and workforce ecosystem focused on innovation and adaptability,” said Kevin Law, Empire State Development board chairman. “This center will empower students to shape the future and drive positive change on Long Island and across the state.”
