Buffalo Charter School Renovates Closed Campus Library
Nonprofit education operators must raise their own facilities funds, as this donor-backed renovation shows.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School celebrated the grand opening of Saffrin Hall, a renovated former Medaille University library building now housing BuffSci Middle School. The renovation took three months, and the school is a Buffalo operator now using space on the closed Medaille campus.
Why it matters
Charter schools receive no state or federal funding for facilities, so the renovation was funded through foundations and private supporters, including the Saffrin Foundation. For Buffalo operators, the project shows how mission-driven institutions must raise capital directly to convert a closed campus into usable space.
The renovation of the former Medaille University library building took three months to complete before the school's middle school opened in the space. The total cost of the project and its exact funding breakdown were not reported.
The players
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School
A Buffalo charter school operating K-12 academic programs that relies on private fundraising for its facilities, as charter schools receive no state or federal facilities funding.
Saffrin Foundation
A philanthropic foundation that served as a major donor to the renovation of the former Medaille University library building.
The details
The old library building, known as Huber Hall and renamed Saffrin Hall, was renovated to add new classrooms and spaces for the middle school. Funding came from foundations and supporters, with the Saffrin Foundation as a major donor. Because charter schools must raise facilities money on their own, the project depends on philanthropic capital rather than public budgets. The school is also fundraising to add an athletic field to the Medaille campus.
Timeline
September 2026: BuffSci Middle School opened its doors at Saffrin Hall.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: The grand opening and dedication of the renovated building was celebrated.
Market Landscape
Charter schools in New York operate without state or federal facilities funding, so they depend on donors and foundations to acquire or renovate buildings. The Saffrin Hall project follows that pattern, using a closed university campus as its physical base.
Nonprofit and education operators in Buffalo should note that facilities projects increasingly depend on coordinated fundraising rather than public appropriations. Organizations planning capital work should consult qualified counsel or an accountant on how donor-funded renovations are structured and recorded.
The takeaway
Operators planning facilities work should treat philanthropic funding as the primary capital channel and build donor relationships before the build starts. Track fundraising progress on the athletic field project, since it signals how much additional campus capital the school must still raise.
Further reading
For more on how donors support local institutions, explore Philanthropy coverage in Buffalo.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wivb4.
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