Photo credit: Stony Brook University
James Coughlan considers himself a father of four grateful patients of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. And as a member of the Children’s Hospital Task Force, he’s also an involved community partner, eager to support Suffolk County’s only hospital dedicated to specialized care for children.
Founded in 1986 by brothers Robert J. and James L. Coughlan, TRITEC Real Estate is a family-owned and operated business that has thrived at the Stony Brook Technology Center headquarters for 30 years. With the help of their father, real estate banker and Chairman Emeritus of the Board Robert T. Coughlan, TRITEC has become a leader among New York commercial real estate companies by successfully acquiring, developing, constructing, financing, leasing and managing real estate projects.
As vested neighbors with a proven track record in building and maintaining communities, TRITEC is again helping foster resources crucial to Long Island residents’ quality of life via their most recent gift of $278,000 to Stony Brook Children’s. Matching dollars from the Knapp Swezey Children’s Challenge doubles TRITEC’s impact to $556,000.
This gift counted toward the $25 million fundraising effort for the new Stony Brook Children’s Hospital building, scheduled to open in 2017. The expansion will allow Stony Brook Medicine to grow with the changing needs of families throughout Suffolk County and beyond and will reside within the 10-level University Hospital Pavilion, part of a 465,000 square foot development that also includes a state-of-the-art research and clinical care facility known as the Medical and Research Translation building.
“Right there you have a $423 million capital project that creates thousands of jobs over a period of two to three years,” Jim Coughlan said. “From an economic engine standpoint, it’s massive.” Specifically, Coughlan pointed out the ongoing 1,100 new jobs that will be created, 300 of which will be filled by physicians. “It’s a huge catalyst for our local business environment. It’s a natural fit.”
Every year, Stony Brook Children’s performs more than 3,700 surgeries and treats more than 8,000 children and young adults. “It’s mind numbing what the hospital, as a whole, is doing. Most of us are fortunate enough to not be exposed to those cutting-edge technologies as they’re coming out, but to know that they’re here is phenomenal,” Coughlan said.
President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. lauded those who had given in support of the children’s hospital. “Stony Brook wouldn’t be the University it is today without the incredible engagement and generosity of our community, and the Children’s Hospital is no exception. TRITEC has time and again shown genuine generosity to the Stony Brook community,” he said. “It’s leadership and actions like those of TRITEC that have inspired the entire community to support the best minds and ideas in children’s medicine.”
Stony Brook Children’s is the only facility dedicated to specialized care for children in the 100 miles between the Nassau/Queens border and Montauk, and is the only facility on Long Island associated with a medical research institution. Coughlan believes Stony Brook Children’s, and Stony Brook Medicine overall, is a community pillar that area businesses and residents can rally around.
“Through its lifespan to date it’s had a tremendous impact on our community. That’s why there are so many who are willing to donate; a lot of grateful patients and a lot of grateful organizations,” Coughlan said. He hopes TRITEC’s gift will prompt others to contribute to the value Stony Brook brings in not only providing life saving and specialized care for kids, but also for attracting and retaining residents in the area.
“To have watched Stony Brook and the hospital become a more powerful force in the community, and to do it at the same time that our company has grown — attracting and retaining more resources to the area — has been great,” Coughlan said. “I hope to be able to contribute to their success for as long as possible. We’re in it for the long haul.”
Stony Brook Children’s will feature single patient rooms geared for children of all ages, family suites with private sleep and bathing areas, and playrooms and teen relaxation spaces designed by Stony Brook Child Life Specialists. The new building will also feature a pediatric intensive care unit, adolescent unit, procedure suite, hematology/oncology unit, medical/surgical units and modern patient and family amenities and more best ideas in medicine for kids.
Read the full article in the Stony Brook University News.