JPMorgan Chase announced it will be building a new technology center on familiar territory: behind the Carrier Dome.
"We chose to work with SU because we were impressed with Nancy Cantor's 'Scholarship in Action' program and her focus on an interdisciplinary curriculum," said Andrea Singer, a member of the JPMorgan leadership team that worked with the university. "We had similar goals."
The company formed a bond with the university during the summer with a $30 million investment in Syracuse University programs.
The JPMorgan Chase Technology Center is planned to be a 200,000-square-foot building that will be constructed on a current Dome parking lot, across the street from Sadler Hall. Construction is scheduled to begin late next year, but the center is still in the planning stages.
"We are excited to have finally finalized a site. We just kicked off the project team and have yet to contract an architect," Singer said.
A building of this scale could take anywhere from 18 months to two years to complete, said Chris Danek of the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction. The project is managed by JPMorgan, but SU will be involved in construction as well.
The cost of the construction is yet to be determined.
Dome patrons should not fear, as the eliminated parking lot will likely be supplemented with a garage adjacent to the technology center, Danek said.
The specific focus of the new center is not finalized, but Singer said it will focus on large-scale computing and finances. She said they hope to create a center based on experiential learning opportunities for both students and current JPMorgan employees.
"Our goal is a better trained entry-level workforce," Singer said. "This partnership will allow for enhanced internship opportunities for students."
The company hopes to have open dialogues along with joint projects between the university and the center. The plan is to offer student internships while working with professors to create an interdisciplinary curriculum. The company coined the term "Technology in Action," which it considers a natural extension of Cantor's catchphrase.
Ideally, the curriculum will consist of modules - or specific course content and projects - that would be reusable from year to year and across the country. Once the project is finalized, the company hopes to deliver the curriculum to a wider audience, both other companies and other universities. This in turn would extend the benefits of the program beyond SU and JPMorgan.
The center will also provide jobs for Central New York residents.
Students in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management will also have career-based opportunities on the edge of their own campus.
"I think it will be a great opportunity since it's so close to campus," said Kyle Keller, a sophomore Whitman student.
The new center aims to be eco-friendly. The company hopes to gain LEED platinum certification in the building's construction, which is the highest earth-friendly rating a building can earn. The construction will focus on water and energy efficiency, utilization of natural light and using recycled or sustainable materials in the building's construction.
"We are very excited to begin this project," Singer said. "It's an opportunity for lifelong learning and collaboration."
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