BUFFALO, N.Y. — The booming Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus has a new building open and ready to train the next generation of doctors.
It's the new home for The University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, which leaders hope will draw talented students, researchers and doctors from around the world to Western New York.
The school held the official grand opening Tuesday morning for the $375 million, eight-story building. It's named in honor of the Jacobs family and Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, who donated $30 million for the project as part of a $200 million fundraising campaign.
"This medical school is the most impressive and state-of-the-art building of its kind in the country and perhaps the world," Jacobs said.
UB's medical school returns downtown where it was originally located until 1953. The location is key — in the heart of the medical campus — offering greater opportunities and access for students and staff.
"Having the medical school right here with the rest of the health care facilities is to retain those doctors here" said UB President Satish Tripathi.
The medical school plans to expand its class size by 25 percent to 180 students. They'll begin using the new building when classes resume in January.