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Jul 30
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Brick by Brick: Collegiate winner and finalists

By Awards, News

bizjournals.com
Donna Collins
July 29, 2021

Each year, Buffalo Business First honors the best in real estate, construction and development in Western New York. The UB Autonomy Center was selected as a finalist in the Collegiate Category.

UB Autonomy Center

Blue poles with fencing

Autonomy center at UB

Project: This is an enclosed drone-testing facility where University at Buffalo professors, students and partners can conduct experiments on uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). The experiments on the UAVs will be used in research on autonomous technology, sensors and surveillance, small parcel delivery, logistics and drone fleets. The research facility, dubbed SOAR (Structure for Outdoor Autonomy Research), is 120 by 200 feet and 86 feet tall, and is believed to be the third largest outdoor-enclosed drone-testing facility in the nation. The Autonomy Center will place UB at the forefront of research and education and will aid in the advance of cutting-edge solutions that can improve everything from commerce and national security to emergency response and agriculture.

Address: Sprague Road (UB North-Crofts Lot), Getzville

Square footage: 24,000

Owner: University at Buffalo

Architect/engineers: DiDonato Associates Engineering & Architecture PC

General contractor: Rodriguez Construction Group Inc.

Other contractors: Gorilla Netting, Buffalo Drilling Co., Woodsmith Fence

Timeline: June-Oct. 2020

Cost: $825,000

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Apr 01
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DiDonato Provides Design Services for UB Outdoor Drone Facility

By News

As part of our Term Agreement with SUNY at Buffalo, DiDonato provided design services for a 3.5 million cubic foot netted enclosure to cover approximately the 59,000 SF parking lot next to Crofts Hall on the North Campus.

Design included foundations, poles, and netting. Our Team also provided soil borings and on-site soil and concrete testing services; prepared construction documentation; assisted with evaluating bids; reviewed project submittals; and normal site investigations and inspections. DiDonato provided guidance on regulatory requirements and assisted in the submittal of required documentation, including to FAA and NYSDEC.

The structure is being used to perform research for Autonomous Drones.

To see the facility, click here

Jun 01
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BEAM Sr. Dinner Gala

By News

DiDonato was proud to be a sponsor of the 2018 Buffalo Engineering Awareness for Minorities (BEAM) Senior Dinner Gala, which was held on Thursday, May 31 at the Grapevine Banquet Facility.  As part of the celebration, John DiDonato established and distributed two Scholarships in honor of his father, Norman DiDonato, who passed away in March of this year.  Students wrote an essay about their experience with BEAM, their plans for education, and how they overcame any obstacles they have faced in their lives.  They also stated how they believe engineering will  impact the future.  All the essays were very well done.  It was hard for John to select just two.

In the end, he selected Brandon McDonald, who is looking to obtain a Ph.D. in Engineering and Nykolus Charter, who will be going to school for Mechanical Engineering.  Both students have worked hard, and taken advantage of the opportunities and resources that were available to them to be successful, including the BEAM program.

DiDonato Associates is proud of all the BEAM Graduates and wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

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