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Navigating Campus Life at SUNY ESF 

08/26/2024

Ask any student what they love most about attending the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) and chances are they’ll say our community! But even in a small-college setting, new students still might find those first few weeks overwhelming as they learn to navigate campus. Don’t worry: We have you covered!

Here are some key things to know about the ESF campus: 

First-year students live in Centen.  
Our residence hall is Centennial Hall – otherwise known as Centen. The building is designed to support ESF’s sustainability focus through eco-friendly design elements such as on-site composting bins. Centen offers double and triple rooms with private bathrooms, solid wood furniture, lounge areas, bike storage, fitness center — and so much more! 

Moon Library is more than just a library.  
Moon Library is a campus hub. It is a specialized scientific library where students can access an array of resources and technology.  

On the main floor, you will find tables where students can work in groups, as well as quiet nooks where they can work independently. If you need a more private space to focus, you can hop into one of the library’s Zen Booths to close out the peripheral noise.  

Need some relaxation? Moon Library also has massage chairs to help reduce the classwork and exam stress. Need some fuel? Café @ Moon offers quick-service beverages and snacks.  

On the lower level, you will find student support services such as the Academic Success Center, campus engagement and community service, the food pantry, student lounges, and the office for the Mighty Oak Student Assembly (MOSA) student government association. The entire lower level will soon be accessible to students 24/7. 

 

You can also borrow bikes from Moon Library! We have five Kona Africa Bikes available to rent for 24 hours at a time for free.  

 

We have six academic buildings.  

  1. Bray Hall: Home to the Department of Sustainable Resources Management, graduate student offices, administrative offices, the Division of Student Affairs, and ESF Athletics. This is the oldest building on campus.  

  2. Walters Hall: Here, you’ll find the Department of Chemical Engineering and a semi-commercial paper mill for educational use in our Paper Engineering program. The green roof is a vegetated cover that aids in controlling storm water run-off and mitigating urban heat-island effects. It conserves building energy, reduces sound transmission, and creates a pleasant, aesthetic environment that can even provide wildlife habitat. 

  3. Illick Hall: Home to the Department of Environmental Biology (EB), Illick Hall features the College’s beautiful rooftop greenhouses. EB is the College’s largest academic department, and the building contains faculty offices, laboratories and classrooms, along with a lecture hall. 

  4. Marshall Hall: This building underwent a top-to-bottom renovation and just reopened in Fall 2023. Marshall Hall is home to the departments of Landscape Architecture (LA) and Environmental Science, and many general education courses are taught here. It’s also where you can find the Digital Storytelling Studio and ample studio space for LA students.  

  5. Jahn Laboratory: ESF’s world-renowned chemistry program is housed in Jahn Lab. The building has a 40-station organic teaching lab, computational chemistry lab, polymer processing lab, a variety of research laboratories, culture rooms, a laser spectroscopy lab, and a rooftop atmospheric sampling station. 

  6. Baker Laboratory: The Department of Environmental Resources Engineering and campus computer labs are in this building. It’s attached to Jahn Lab, so you can get between buildings without leaving. There are numerous labs for green construction/building materials research, composite products research, and an wood engineering testing.

Check out our facilities here > 

Fuel up with food. 
Trailhead Café in the Gateway Center is a popular on-campus spot for food. Open five days a week, Trailhead provides dining options for almost every diet — including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free — and supports New York state producers, growers, and manufacturers by purchasing many products within the state.  

Café @ Moon offers quick-service food and beverages.  

Because ESF meal plans are offered through Syracuse University, ESF students can access SU’s five campus dining centers and their retail locations. 

Stay in the loop about campus happenings.  
Keep track of all campus events and club meetings through ESF Engage. You can search by keyword or perks (free food, anyone?!). Check it out here > 

 

Can you imagine yourself as part of ESF’s campus? Apply today >