If you hear a buzz around and about the Manhattan campus this spring, try looking up. No, New York City is not being attacked by bees, but you may see a few of the invited guests who have taken residence on the rooftop of the Student Activities Building. As part of a hospitality management project at NYIT School of Management, two 400-pound beehives, which house 12,000 bees, were installed at 1849 Broadway in early April.
The hives and their inhabitants will be incorporated in three hospitality management courses: Purchasing, Procurement, and Supply Management; Experiential Based Learning: Practicum Sustainability in Hospitality Management; and Food Culture and Contemporary Issues.
To install the hives, Robert Koenig, Ed.D., associate professor and chair of hospitality studies, and Patthara Chandaraggha, student advisement specialist, worked with Andrew Cote of Silvermine Apiary LLC, a family beekeeping operation in existence since the 1800’s.
Many businesses, such as hotels and restaurants, are installing beehives on the rooftops of their urban locations in an effort to promote sustainability. “Beehives help preserve the environment, protect it, and enhance our communities,” Koenig said. Cote, who manages beehives on the rooftops of the Museum of Modern Art, The Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and One Bryant Park, among others, will assist the students with management, care, feeding, honey extraction, and bottling.
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