Daemen University hosted an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Saffrin Public Square on Thursday afternoon, celebrating the opening of the newly constructed quad.
“This is a major transformation of our campus, and it symbolizes Daemen’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and to the safety of our students,” President Gary A. Olson said.
The quad is named in honor of Paul Saffrin, who has been a steadfast supporter of Daemen for nearly a decade. Saffrin began as a member of the Daemen Community Advisory Board and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. He is also one of the university’s most consequential donors, helping to fund the quad and support the efforts of The Paul A. Saffrin Center for Sustainability and Civic Engagement.
“Paul has supported many campus initiatives, most notably devoting a one and a half million-dollar gift to help bring to fruition a decades-long wish of many at Daemen: the replacement of the sprawling parking lot between Duns Scotus and the Student Center with a traditional campus quad,” added Olson.
Construction on the quad started in late May, with crews completing the first phase of the project in time for students to return to campus in September. A Ringo Starr ‘Peace and Love’ sculpture will be added to the peace garden later this fall, and a fountain will be installed in May.
The university also plans to sponsor a tree challenge, allowing donors to purchase or contribute toward the purchase of mature trees to be planted in the public square.