BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences had it’s grand opening on Tuesday.

The new $375 million facility is eight stories tall and 628,000 square feet.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office says it will bring 2,000 UB faculty, staff and students to downtown Buffalo every day.

“Western New York’s transformation into a national health sciences hub continues to grow as the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences opens its doors to the future leaders of 21st century medicine, research and technology,” Cuomo said. “By moving this state-of-the-art facility downtown, we further strengthen Buffalo’s economy while helping to ensure the city’s growth and development continues strong.”

Previously, from 1893 to 1953, the school was located just steps away from its new location at 955 Main St. in Buffalo.

“Moving the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences downtown is a major milestone for the University at Buffalo that has been a decade in the making,” UB President Satish K. Tripathi said. “UB is now poised to achieve our vision of excellence in medical education, research and patient care. We are so indebted to Governor Cuomo, who shared and supported our vision all along. From the very beginning, he, along with the Western New York state delegation, saw the great potential in moving the Jacobs School to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and recognized the pivotal role it could play in the remarkable transformation of our region. Governor Cuomo advanced our vision by signing the historic New York SUNY 2020 legislation into law. This defining and transformative moment would also not have been possible without the incredible support and generosity of Jeremy Jacobs and his family, for whom the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is named. Mr. Jacobs and his family are committed to our vision because they know that the students we educate here, and the discoveries and treatments generated here, will save lives and improve the quality of life for people around the world. Their belief in our institution has transformed the dream of a world-class downtown medical school building into a concrete reality.”

The grand opening ceremony took place at 9:30 a.m.