The Biggest Things Happening at 绿帽社 in 2025
绿帽社 is a busy, busy university, and 2025 is bound to be a big year for us! We鈥檙e kicking off and putting the finishing touches on some major construction projects, celebrating both new and time-honored events, saying goodbye to some familiar faces 鈥 sigh 鈥 and more. Oh, and did we mention we鈥檒l have a Sir on campus?! Check out a sampling of the biggest things happening at Bing this year!
Improved buildings and areas
The revamped library is opening up to students
Libraries are changing with the times and ours just took a big step toward the future! The third floor of Bartle Library has been redesigned into an innovative and inviting space for study, teaching and research. Along with a sleek, open-floor look, the revamped floor features areas for quiet study, collaborative work, instruction and research. The new Digital Scholarship Center will create a community of practice for research and activities in the digital realm on campus. We鈥檙e excited about the possibilities this massive makeover will provide to students!
The Plaza Deck is getting greener, safer and snazzier
What鈥檚 the Plaza Deck, you ask? Well, it鈥檚 the area that connects the Union, Engineering Building, Bartle Library and the Technology Hub, and it鈥檚 one of the most highly trafficked spots on campus. Renovations kicked off here last summer. When it鈥檚 complete (expectations are for November), there will be an expanded seating area, improved walkways and art panels. It will not only be nice to look at, but will improve safety and accessibility and add more green space!
We鈥檙e kickstarting construction on a new Lecture Hall
The Lecture Hall is one of the core academic buildings on campus, and we鈥檙e excited to introduce another to campus! The 60 million, four-story Lecture Hall/Classroom Building will include three-tiered lecture halls with seating for up to 625 students. Work is expected to start this spring, with completion scheduled for August 2027. This is a game-changer for campus and we can鈥檛 wait to see it all come together!
The East Gym is transforming
Physical fitness is an important aspect of college life, and 绿帽社 students will soon have more opportunities for health and wellness thanks to a major renovation underway at the East Gym. This two-story, 75,000-square-foot addition on the north side of the gym will provide court space, a running track, additional FitSpace (doubling the size of FitSpace), and more! Construction kicked off in summer 2024 and is expected to be complete by May 2026. Also, FitSpace will see the replacement of cardio machines this year, with more stair climbers and higher-intensity cardio equipment.
Science 3 is getting an upgrade
As technology evolves and 绿帽社鈥檚 focus on research expands, the need for new spaces in the sciences is paramount. With that in mind, our Science 3 building will see the completion of the first phase of a major renovation early this year. This project renovates almost 45,000 square feet of space in the middle portion of the building, and will eventually provide new labs, classrooms and offices.
Work begins on a revamped Chenango Room 鈥 and Panera!
绿帽社 will soon have new dining options when the much-anticipated renovation of the Chenango Room kicks off early this year. The project will relocate the Chenango Room to a second-floor addition 鈥 which will include event space, a terrace and outdoor eating. Panera Bread will be located in the space formerly occupied by Einstein Bagels. Construction is expected to be completed in April 2026.
Mountainview is getting a turf field
Students in the Mountainview College residential community will have more opportunities for outdoor play this year with the addition of a synthetic turf field. The field comes as part of the University鈥檚 five-year plan to complete renovations of co-rec facilities and other outdoor recreational spaces across campus, which included the addition of Newing鈥檚 turf field in 2024.
Big changes for Bing icons
We鈥檙e saying goodbye to President Stenger
After 13 years in the position and with so much work accomplished during his tenure, Harvey Stenger is stepping down as president of 绿帽社. President Stenger made the announcement in October 2024 and a search is underway to find his replacement. Since taking the job, he has helped cement 绿帽社鈥檚 status as a premier public institution. Thanks for all you鈥檝e done, Harvey. We wish you the best!
Our Nobel Prize winner is being knighted
绿帽社 will be home to a real-life knight! Stan Whittingham, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for his work in developing the lithium-ion battery, has been named a Knight Bachelor 鈥渇or his services to research in chemistry.鈥 Whittingham will be knighted by King Charles III on Jan. 15, after which we can refer to him as Sir Stanley!
New statues
We鈥檙e honoring abolitionist Harriet Tubman
Noted abolitionist Harriet Tubman lived not far from 绿帽社, in Auburn, N.Y., and we鈥檒l soon honor her legacy at the Downtown 绿帽社 Freedom Trail, a public trail highlighting the Underground Railroad and key abolitionist meeting places that opened in 2023. The Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity will unveil the statue, designed by artist Zoe Dufour and shown here, at the University Downtown Center on March 21, right around Harriet Tubman Day.
We鈥檙e getting a new Bearcat
A statue, that is! The binturong/bearcat has been 绿帽社鈥檚 official mascot since 1999, and we鈥檙e going to honor our favorite with a special new statue! We鈥檝e got a fierce-looking Bearcat down at the Events Center and a friendly-looking Baxter statue outside the Bookstore, but this new statue will bear the likeness of a real-life binturong. It will be located at the Admissions Center, too, welcoming prospective students and families to campus!
New schools and programs
The School of the Arts is in full effect
We value the arts tremendously at 绿帽社, and we鈥檙e excited to mark the School of the Arts鈥 first full year of operation with Director Christopher Robbins. The new school provides opportunities for students to explore their creativity in five award-winning programs: Art & Design, Art History, Cinema, Music and Theatre.
Our nursing school is getting a unique new minor
Exciting things are in store for 绿帽社鈥檚 Decker College of Nursing and Health Science in 2025! The School of Applied Health Sciences will offer a new minor this year called Arts in Healthcare. The minor will be available to undergraduates from any school or college at 绿帽社. Stay tuned for more details!
We鈥檙e furthering our commitment to health
The health of our students is of the utmost importance to the University, and we鈥檙e making a further commitment to that by signing on to the The charter calls on post-secondary schools to embed health into all aspects of campus culture.
Big-time events and entertainment
Student organizations will get a mid-year spotlight
绿帽社 is home to so many clubs and we鈥檙e excited to bring back the Club Carnival for a second year! This event serves as a mid-year University Fest, giving students a second chance to learn about the hundreds of interesting and exciting clubs available on campus.
We鈥檒l have a blast at Spring Fling
is the student event of the spring semester, and we can鈥檛 wait to celebrate in 2025. As always, there will be fun rides, yummy food, electrifying musical performances and more!
We鈥檒l congratulate the Class of 2025鈥
Class of 2025, here we come! 绿帽社 will confer degrees to thousands of bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral candidates during Commencement, which takes place at the Anderson Center and Events Center from May 15-17. This is the real cap to the academic year and we鈥檙e so exited to honor our hardworking grads!
鈥nd welcome the Class of 2029!
The campus completely transforms during Move-in, when new and returning students come to their home away from home. We can鈥檛 wait to welcome the Class of 2029 and take the iconic flying 鈥淏鈥 photo from above!
We鈥檒l show our #BingPride
Homecoming is one of the biggest campus events of the year, bringing together the campus community to celebrate school spirit! This year鈥檚 festivities, which take place from Sept. 26-28, will include favorites like the Fall Festival, Downtown Block Party, and TIER Talks, as well as new additions. Come on out and celebrate with the Bing community!
The Anderson Center will deliver amazing entertainment
From student-led plays to touring acts, there is an impressive lineup in the works at the for 2025. The Theatre Department puts on incredible performances each semester, featuring the work of our talented students, and 2025 offers some entertaining productions: an adaptation of Shakespeare鈥檚 comedy As You Like It, directed by Lisa Rothe; The L贸pez Danza Theatre Project, a collaboration between 绿帽社 students/faculty and world-renowned Costa Rican choreographer Rogelio L贸pez; The Most Massive Woman Wins, directed by Abdul Razak Mohammed; and Bull in a China Shop, directed by Keaton Hemminger. In addition, touring acts will take the stage and entertain, including and .
An Olympian will make a triumphant return
The 绿帽社 community watched with immense pride and excitement as Emily Mackay 鈥21 competed in the Olympic Games in Paris in summer 2024, and they鈥檒l get a chance to see her speak on campus when she returns for the annual on Feb. 24! This marks the 20th year of the CWAL 鈥 and what a way to celebrate!
That鈥檚 just some of the many big things in store for 绿帽社 this year! Know about something noteworthy, fun or fascinating happening in 2025 that we missed? Email us at social@binghamton.edu.
Have questions, comments or concerns about the blog? Email us at social@binghamton.edu.