MCC Daily Tribune
The People Behind the Sydor Optics Advanced Technology Center ATC: Phil Oettinger and Antonia Custodio
Without them, the Sydor Optics Advanced Technology Center (SOATC) would not have come to fruition. Phil Oettinger, Interim Associate Vice President of Facilities, and Antonia Custodio, Director of Capital Planning & Project Management, played critical roles in bringing a concept from paper to the 110,000-square-foot cutting-edge facility. For Phil, it is one of the three biggest projects he has worked on, and it is the biggest for Antonia.
Veronica: What about the building are you most excited about?
Phil: This building will be a cornerstone of MCC for years to come. What is so great about it is that it brings fresh new learning environments and labs to our Applied Technologies and Optics programs. The space is built to allow for flexibility as needs change and to give the college the space it needs to continue to expand and offer what our community needs.
Antonia: What excites me most about this building is the endless opportunities it will create for our students. The new learning environments will allow students in the skilled trades and optics programs to gain hands-on experience using modern equipment and technology that closely reflects what they will encounter in the workforce. Industry is evolving rapidly, and the demand for highly skilled professionals in the trades and optics continues to grow. This facility positions Monroe Community College to prepare students for those careers by providing innovative spaces that support experiential learning, collaboration, and workforce readiness. Beyond the building itself, I'm excited about the impact it will have on our students' futures. This facility will help them develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in high-demand careers while strengthening the workforce that our region depends on.
Veronica: What about the building do you want people to know that they may not know?
Phil: This helps bring our college community closer together. It isn’t just a new building, but it gives our applied technology people a sense of home here on the Brighton campus.
Antonia: One thing I hope people know about this building is that it represents far more than bricks, steel, and concrete. It is the result of the dedication, perseverance, and collaboration of countless individuals who shared a common goal—to have this building ready to welcome students on the first day of the fall semester. Meeting that goal required extraordinary commitment. Many people worked long hours, overcame unexpected challenges, and continually adapted to keep the project moving forward. Faculty, staff, contractors, consultants, county representatives, SUNY, and project partners all played an important role in making this vision a reality. This building truly reflects the saying, "It takes a village." Every milestone achieved was the result of teamwork, determination, and a shared commitment to providing our students with an exceptional learning environment. What people see today is not just a new facility—it is a testament to what can be accomplished when so many individuals come together with a common purpose.
Veronica: Why do you think this building is so important to MCC's mission?
Phil: Where a student learns directly impacts how and what they learn. Our mission is to “foster success in our diverse students”; without the proper tools, buildings, and learning spaces, we can't do that. This building provides everything needed to challenge and transform our students.
Antonia: Our mission to transform lives and communities is what this building will accomplish for generations to come.
Veronica: If you could give this project a name, what would you call it?
Phil: Project One. During the whole project, we had one goal, and everyone on the campus did everything they could to achieve it.
Antonia: If I could name this project, I would call it “Built on Commitment” or “Resilience in Action.”
Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
08/24/2026