What a Year! Campus Beautification Committee Helped Make SBU More Inviting

From one side of campus to another, the Campus Beautification Committee (CBC) has been busy enhancing spaces across Stony Brook University. And this year has been the busiest yet for the committee as it works to adorn all corners of our university with student-created and/or community-driven works of art.

Here’s a look at all of the amazing work the CBC has done this year to embody the university’s core values of inclusion, belonging, pride and purpose, month after month and all year long.

January 2024

Mandala
Student Health Services/Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center
Artist: Boxin Yao, ‘24
We started the year strong when Alumnus Boxin Yao created a “mandala” that was then colored in by students, faculty, and staff during a CBC event at the Student Activities Center. The mandala represents a spiritual symbol in ancient Chinese culture and provides feelings of hope and healing, said Yao. The art installation now showcases the beauty of diversity across the Stony Brook campus and can be found at the CAPS Center.

To learn more, read the article and view the video.

March 2024

‘Le Judicieux’ Mural (English translation: The Judicious)
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS)
Artist: Norah Allam, ‘26
In March, student artist Norah Allam created an octopus mural in Endeavor Hall for the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS). Double majoring in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics and statistics, Allam demonstrated her passion and talent for art while working on her mural for months. The CBC, alongside SoMAS professors and staff members, commemorated her work later in the Fall semester.

To learn more, read the article and view the video. 

April 2024

Greenhouse Mural
Life Sciences Greenhouse Retaining Wall
Artist: Trinity Hausch, ‘26
The Life Sciences building got a colorful addition this year, with a mural in front of the campus greenhouse. This project with the CBC was created to raise awareness for the greenhouse and help people find it. It also reminds SBU and outside community members of the eco-friendly research we do there and across the university. Trinity Hausch, biochemistry major and president of the Greenhouse Club, created a sketch for the mural, which was later colored in by students, faculty, and staff this past Earth Day. 

To learn more about her work, read the article and view the video.  

May 2024

Water Droplet Sculpture
North Reading Room, Melville Library
Artist: Sy Lee ‘24
Not all art needs to be a picture in a frame, necessarily. Student artist Sy Lee brought his dream to life by installing his ‘Water Droplet’ structure at the Melville Library’s North Reading Room – an ideal spot to display his art while creating a more welcoming environment for students. Lee wanted to add color and creativity to this space while emphasizing how the library is the perfect place for collaboration among Stony Brook students. 

To learn more, read the article and view the video.  

June 2024

‘Harmony’s Grasp’ Origami Flag
Charles B. Wang Center
Artist: Ellie Mei Lu, ‘27
The Wang Center this year had a brand new display in conjunction with the Origami Club and student artist Ellie Mei Lu. After a campus crane-a-thon event – a student-led crane folding marathon – students came together to create 300 paper birds and other structures. With the help of students, faculty, and staff, the ‘Harmony’s Grasp’ Origami Flag was born. The flag represents a full-on campus community effort and reflects our diversity and spirit. Similar to this initiative, the Origami Club created the Pride Origami Flag, which was installed last year in the Wang Center before moving over to CAPS. 

To learn more, read the article and view the video.  

September 2024

School of Communications and Journalism (SoCJ) Mural
Educational Communications Center (ECC)
Artist: Emma Ehrhard, ‘24
Student artist and communications major Emma Ehrhard shared her vision with the CBC and the SoCJ during the fall semester – a sweeping splash of color in front of the ECC building. Dozens of students, faculty, and staff came together to paint the sketch she had created. Erhard has always enjoyed art and was happy to give back to the campus community that continues to be a place of growth and opportunity for her and so many others. 

To learn more, read the article and view the video.   

CommUniversity Day Lego Mural
Office of Government and Community Relations
At Stony Brook University’s CommUniversity Day, LEGO enthusiasts laid the foundation for new traditions, stacking their skills brick by brick in the first-ever LEGO competition and helping build a community mural. This event marked the start of a creative journey for builders of all ages, collaboratively creating their combined vision of the university in a unique mural that resides at the Office of Government and Community Relations. 

To learn more, read the article. 

October 2024

Homecoming Mural
Sports Complex
The Seawolves came together during Homecoming in October to paint a 17-x-7-foot mural on the back wall of the Sports Complex facing LaValle Stadium in the style of Stony Brook’s new branding. The mural represents the CBC’s initiative to beautify spaces across campus, and its partnership with the Department of Athletics. 

To learn more, read the article.   

Native Garden Planting
Life Sciences Building
Artist: Greenhouse Club
The Greenhouse Club and CBC teamed up again, creating more visual interest around the Life Sciences building with a wide assortment of plants. The club weeded, planted, and watered dozens of native species grown by greenhouse curator Sean Halliwell. From shrubby St. John’s wort (Hypericum prolificum) to Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) and more, Halliwell said the project is a great contribution to the continuing goal of educating the campus community about the greenhouse. 

To learn more, read the article and view the video. 

Looking Ahead

With such a highly successful year under its belt, the CBC is looking forward to, and already planning, many more projects to come, partnering with areas all across campus. If you’d like to help us continue to paint Stony Brook University  #SBUtiful – recommending a project, proposing your own art (or someone else’s), mentoring a student or volunteering your time and expertise as a member of our planning committee – fill out this form and welcome aboard!

— Neena Mir