Rendering of people working in an updated physical therapy/occupational therapy lab space with stairs, balance balls and other rehabilitation tools.
A rendering of a physical therapy/occupational therapy lab space as part of the Paine Hall/Mueller Science Hall renovation project at Russell Sage College. The new space will open for the fall 2024 semester.

Russell Sage College will begin a $3.8 renovation of Paine Hall and Mueller Science Hall this week on the Troy campus to better serve students and faculty in some of our high-demand academic programs. The renovations will be completed in time for the start of the fall 2024 semester.

The renovation of nearly 8,200 square feet includes updates to existing science labs and new occupational and physical therapy spaces, including the creation of pediatric, neurologic, and orthopedic-equipped labs and study rooms with typical clinical equipment for research and study. 

In addition to serving on-campus students, the renovations support the national expansion of our physical therapy and occupational therapy programs through online education provider 2U, which is assisting in delivering a hybrid program that includes periodic on-campus experiences. In partnership with 2U, Russell Sage will launch a hybrid M.S. in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program in fall 2024 and a hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program in fall 2025 (pending approval by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education). The application process is already open for the hybrid MSOT program.

The nationwide demand for physical therapists and occupational therapists is expected to grow by 15% and 12% respectively over the next decade, faster than the average for all jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“We’re excited to widen the reach of our highly respected programs in physical and occupational therapy, and we want to support students and faculty in those programs with facilities that enhance learning and mimic the professional clinical environment,” said Russell Sage College President Christopher Ames. “These renovations will support enrollment in those fields and our other health sciences programs, which are in areas of high workforce demand, in the years to come.”

Ames added that consecutive years of budget surpluses, significant debt reduction, and good fiscal stewardship have put the college in a position to invest in facilities.

The college is working with Architecture + and LeChase (Construction Management Team) on the project.

Renovations to French House, soon-to-be-known-as Esteves House, will also begin this year following the $4 million gift from Donna Robinson Esteves, a 1970 graduate of the college, announced last fall. The project, which will be completed in the 2024-2025 academic year, will create a modern, all-women residence hall for up to 15 students as a way to honor the college’s history. 

Planned renovations to Russell Sage Hall, another one of the historic residence halls on the Troy campus, are scheduled to begin next year as the college pursues grant opportunities.

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