Newburgh- Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana was joined by Congressman Maurice Hinchey, NYS Senator William Larkin, City of Newburgh Mayor Nick Valentine, Orange County Legislators Steve Brescia, Pat Berardinelli, Mike Anagnostakis, Kevin Hines and Katie Bonelli as well as SUNY Orange President Dr. William Richards, Chair of the Board of Trustees Joan Wolfe, Joan Kaplan representing the family of William Kaplan and labor and community leaders as they ceremonially signed and placed the last piece of steel superstructure at Kaplan Hall on the site of the new SUNY Orange Branch Campus.
"This is a great day for SUNY Orange, Orange County and the City of Newburgh," said County Executive Ed Diana. "This institution will provide excellent educational opportunities for future generations and they will appreciate the investments made by the Federal Government, State of New York, Orange County Legislature and the Kaplan family."
Added SUNY Orange President Dr. William Richards, "This is the most exciting project currently within the SUNY system and I am so proud of the commitment of the County Executive and the Orange County Legislature."
A topping off ceremony is a construction industry tradition that marks the moment of the final placement of steel within the superstructure of a building. The SUNY Orange Branch Campus is scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2011.
