DASNY Celebrates the Renovation of Mohonk Hall at SUNY New Paltz

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) joined the SUNY New Paltz community to celebrate the renovation of Mohonk Hall, one of the University's 14 student residence halls, at a ribbon-cutting event on Oct. 22.

Campus officials were joined by Mohonk Hall residents and representatives from key contracting firms, from the office of New York State Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, and from DASNY, including President Robert J. Rodriguez.

SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler said: "This is a residence hall designed for our students, but it is also, critically, a part of what makes being at SUNY New Paltz an educational experience, a living experience, and in many ways, a pillar within our community. It represents a significant investment in the future of SUNY New Paltz, as a home to nearly 300 students on an annual basis. So today we celebrate this project as an example of what happens when the community puts its head together with our funders, with our designers, with our architect, with our campus staff and our DASNY partners in an all-in effort to serve New Paltz students for generations to come."

DASNY President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said: "DASNY is proud to celebrate the completion of Mohonk Hall, the fifth and final residence hall renovation in the Peregrine Complex at SUNY New Paltz. This $49.3 million project represents more than just a building upgrade-it's an investment in creating modern, sustainable living-learning environments where students can thrive during critical years of their lives. Through our partnership with SUNY New Paltz, we've transformed a 56-year-old facility into a state-of-the-art residence hall that will serve 300 students for generations to come. Projects like Mohonk Hall demonstrate how strategic infrastructure investments combined with innovative financing create lasting value for students across New York State."

The upgrades to Mohonk Hall include the addition of a fourth floor, which increases student housing capacity by nearly 70 beds, among numerous enhancements for sustainability, functionality and comfort. Upgrades to the roofing, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems deliver greater energy and resource efficiency, while new finishes and furniture give the building a modern look and feel for New Paltz students.

The residence hall offers suite-style rooms furnished with lofted beds that allow for more storage and more spacious wardrobes with interior mirrors. Students also have access to large common-use lounges with contemporary furnishing and rich natural lighting, a designated office for hall government, a study room, a computer room and expanded laundry facilities.

Mohonk Hall Resident Tatiana Perez '28 (Sociology) said: "College is more than just a place where we come to learn, it's a place where we construct and build ourselves. We build friendships, confidence, new goals and a sense of community. Watching Mohonk rise from the ground up reminds me that growth takes time, patience and teamwork, and that's exactly what college is all about. Since the renovation, I've noticed more students gathering here in this outside area, studying in the lounges, connecting in the common areas, and making new memories. Mohonk has become a real hub of energy and connection. It's not just a building; it's a symbol of how New Paltz continues to evolve and create spaces that help students grow together."

Project partners in attendance for the Oct. 22 ribbon cutting included reps from DASNY, architecture+ of Troy, New York, and Consigli Construction of Albany, New York. These vital external partners worked in close collaboration with campus staff in Facilities Management, Residence Life, Student Affairs, Information Technology Services and other units, as well as many additional outside subcontractors and specialists, to complete this renovation.

The Mohonk Hall renovation cost $49.3 million and created estimated 160 construction jobs, underscoring the economic value generated to our region and state by major campus infrastructure projects.

As is the case for all residence hall construction projects in the SUNY system, financing for the Mohonk Hall renovation came from bonds purchased via the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York The debt service on these bonds does not come from taxpayer dollars or tuition, but from student housing fees.