Most of the materials being moved now are administrative and related to senior associate deans, admissions and graduate medical education, said UB spokeswoman Ellen Goldbaum.

The first major movement of medical school staff and supplies started about a week before the planned opening on Friday of the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital, a short distance away.

UB administrative staff, including Dr. Michael E. Cain, dean and vice president for health sciences, are part of the first phase of the move.

The New York State University Construction Fund granted a temporary certificate of occupancy in early October, and staff and administrators are expected to begin working inside the new medical school soon.

The building is mostly now complete, though some final punch list items are still being done, Goldbaum said.

Final work includes data wiring and furniture coordination and installation.

"As the job goes toward the end, there are finishing stages and things change, technology evolves," said William J. Mahoney, vice president of LPCiminelli, general contractor of the project.