UB Tops Out Russell L. Agrusa Hall Engineering Building
The University at Buffalo placed the final beam on a new engineering building funded in part by a $20 million gift from alumnus Russell L. Agrusa.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Higher Education
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University at Buffalo officials held a topping out ceremony Monday for Russell L. Agrusa Hall, a new engineering building across from the Student Union on the former Furnas Lot. The building is estimated to cost about $111 million and is set to open in 2029.
Why it matters
The project expands engineering facilities at UB, a major public university in Buffalo, with funding that combines state capital support and a private donation. Its progress marks a milestone for the institution's engineering and computer science programs.
The estimated $111 million cost is backed by $68 million in state capital funding and a $20 million gift from Agrusa, a UB alumnus and retired software executive. The extraction does not specify how the remaining balance is financed.
The players
Russell L. Agrusa
A University at Buffalo alumnus and retired software executive who donated $20 million to the university's engineering and computer science programs.
University at Buffalo
The State University of New York's flagship campus in Buffalo, which is constructing the new engineering building.
The details
Officials, faculty, and students signed the metal beam before it was placed atop the structure during Monday's ceremony. The building sits across from the Student Union on the former Furnas Lot, and Agrusa's $20 million gift also supports UB's engineering and computer science programs.
Timeline
Monday (week of November 5, 2026): Topping out ceremony held for Agrusa Hall.
2029: Engineering building scheduled to open.
Campus Context
The building is financed through $68 million in state capital funding alongside a $20 million private gift, a combination typical of public university construction in New York. The project adds to UB's engineering capacity at a time when the university is investing in its science and technology programs.
Buffalo students and faculty will gain new engineering facilities when the building opens in 2029. The construction across from the Student Union may bring changes to campus traffic and access during the building phase.
The takeaway
Large campus projects often rely on a mix of public capital and private philanthropy, and this building shows how alumni gifts can help anchor major investments in engineering education. Students considering UB's engineering programs can watch for the 2029 opening as new facilities come online.
Further reading
Explore more on Higher Education for context on how universities like UB fund and expand their campuses.
Source note: This article includes information reported by A guide to your first year off-campus - The Spectrum.
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