As part of the new Student Senate initiative to increase communication with the RPI administration, I recently met with Dr. Michael Wacholder, director of the Rensselaer Technology Park. This meeting was my second visit to the Park, the first being when I inadvertently stumbled upon it late one night while searching for a KFC.
The Tech Park is an RPI project which dates back to the tenure of Rensselaer President George M. Low. During his tenure, RPI purchased a substantial piece of land in South Troy at the intersection of Route 4, Interstate 90, and the Hudson River. The goal was to “develop interactions between tenant companies and the university,” according to Dr. Wacholder, a 20-plus year veteran and initial planner of the project. Indeed, all of the tenants in the Park are considered “affiliates” of the Institute. This serves the dual purpose of allowing them access to RPI facilities, a precious commodity prior to the online availability of many resources, and helping to create connections with students and faculty. Wacholder stated, “The natural resource of this is human capital, or intellect.” One of the greatest attractions to the Park for a technology-oriented businesses is the close proximity to students looking to enter the workforce after graduating from RPI.
The Tech Park is comprised of 450 acres for technology-oriented companies, 150 acres for housing, 500 acres of open space (visible from I-787 and the Hudson), and 150 acres for riverfront development. These 1250 acres are wholly-owned by Rensselaer, as all businesses in the Park operate under land-lease agreements with RPI. The Park is connected to Interstate 90 exit 8 by US-4 and plans are in development to extend exit 8 to develop a high-capacity roadway through the Tech Park with its terminus at Hudson Valley Community College. Dr. Wacholder emphasized that it will be several years before this plan comes to fruition.
The housing component of the Park is also a work-in-progress. The concept was to provide housing for employees of the park alongside RPI faculty members and graduate students. Substantial interest by faculty in this aspect of the Park has not been enough to allow its fulfillment, however. Given the serious budgeting constraints that are such a trademark of the current economy, as well as prioritization during the development of the Park, it has not yet been built.
Even as the Faculty Senate considers a proposal to include an entrepreneurship requirement for all students beginning with next year’s freshman class, Dr. Wacholder emphasized the importance of all RPI students, regardless of major, having knowledge of the business world. This can partially be achieved, he believes, through greater connections between faculty, students, and the Tech Park. A retreat held by the Provost with the academic deans and chairs at the Tech Park this past semester was a step in the right direction.
Take a stop by the Rensselaer Technology Park the next time you are in the South Troy/North Greenbush area. I think you’ll be impressed. Being a resident of the metro Boston area, I’ve seen many an office park, and RPI’s stands up quite well. Also, it is just as much a part of RPI as the DCC, and you might even find some potential career or internship opportunities.
