Short-term, the space on Fulton Street is a home for Marist College's art program before it moves to another building. Long-term, it's a place for Marist to work and offer services to tech companies, and help smaller businesses grow. 

The building is part of the school's Fulton Technology Crossroad Project. Geoff Brackett, the college's executive vice president, says the growing college has taken in buildings like a former Dutchess County recycling plant and continues to fix it up.

This expansion could give students a chance to better connect with the community. 

"So we have what I call an open architecture, we really want the feedback and the interaction to the community to be a part of everything that we do, from our students' interactions, to our commitment on major financial and capital developments," Brackett said.

Marist has also completed its Science and Allied Health Building construction, and continues to work on a steel plant to house its art and fashion programs as part of the project.