AMHERST, N.Y. – Daemen College formally opened a new section of campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Nov. 22 to celebrate the completion of a footbridge that connects with the original part of campus grounds.

Set in an attractive wooded area on the south end of Daemen’s campus, the approximately 30-foot bridge is accessible from a recently installed parking lot located by Alumni House, which opened this fall for the Division of Institutional Advancement, and the college’s Honors House. The bridge spans a small culvert and leads to a walking path behind Schenck Hall.

“This new bridge connects our newest facilities with the rest of campus and both symbolically and physically bridges the new and older parts of our beautiful and growing campus," said Daemen President Gary A. Olson. "It signals a new era for Daemen College.”

Extensive efforts were made to retain large trees where the short footbridge and 62-space parking lot have been added. The bridge’s entry point was designed to provide a convenient route from the lot to Daemen’s campus and to improve pedestrian safety.

“With the addition of our new facilities and parking lot, we are pleased to open this bridge as a safe walkway for pedestrians in an area of campus that is experiencing increased foot traffic,” said Craig Harris, vice president for institutional advancement. “The bridge also offers visitors to Alumni House an easily accessible walking path to our campus’ central corridor.”