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SYRACUSE - The State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University completed surgery on a high-rise in Syracuse, converting it from the vacant Townsend Tower into a residence hall it now calls Geneva Tower.
The building, which officially opened Aug. 2 at 500 Harrison St., now holds 139 apartments in one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and four-bedroom configurations. It stands at 137,000 square feet and contains a total of 276 beds.
We had a real need for new housing," says Dr. David Duggan, interim dean of SUNY Upstate's College of Medicine. "It provides our students with an appropriate place to live. It also will provide an option for many of our physicians in try, our residents, and fellows. They are all looking for accommodations that are close to the hospital."
The revamped structure, located a few blocks from Upstate University Hospital, is available in time for residents to move in for the fall semester, Duggan adds. Rooms are furnished and include air conditioning, wireless Internet access, and dishwashers.
Geneva Tower will generate about $800,000 in proceeds each year, Duggan estimates. That funding will help pay for academic programs, he adds.
SUNY Upstate spent about $28 million...