SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- SUNY ESF is celebrating the construction of its first residence hall. It will be named Centennial Hall in honor of the college's 100th anniversary.

The $31.4 million building is being constructed by the ESF College Foundation and designed in a way to meet the school's educational mission.

"The residence facilities that we're celebrating today are extremely important in attracting new students. We have obviously a program, an academic program a research program that's very green and environmentally focuses. This will allow our students to literally live in green facilities, learn from the facilities themselves and it really complements the student experience," said Cornelius B. Murphy Jr., SUNY ESF President.

The hall will house about 450 students.