Construction of the new Science Center, which will be dedicated on Sept. 30, is in its final days. Planning began in 1996 for the state-of-the-art, $56 million center. Close to 100 Barr and Barr construction workers are putting in overtime in order to meet the deadline for completion of Phase 2 of the new building, thus marking the completion of all Science Center construction.
Phase 2 includes the construction of the central stem of the building and the renovation of the original building. This includes the new atrium, which will be a gathering place for students and will include a coffee bar run by Café Opus. It also includes 48 teaching laboratories, 53 research laboratories, 11 high-tech classrooms and a 125-seat auditorium.
Walking through the construction, one sees near-completed classrooms and laboratories; lab benches, chemical hoods and flooring or carpeting are in place. Seats as well as speakers are installed in the auditorium. The atrium is taking shape, and the glass will be installed for the front of the building in the next two weeks. These final weeks will include installation of the elevator, the case work for the first floor, and, outside the building, roads and pathways leading to the building.
"Everything is moving along, on budget, on time," said Professor Doug Weldon, coordinator of science curriculum and facilities.
To celebrate the highly anticipated completion of the new building, this year's Fallcoming Weekend (September 29-October 1) has been declared "A Celebration of Science" and will include the dedication of the Science Center. In addition to the dedication, the weekend will include the James S. Plant lecture by Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel; the awarding of honorary degrees and alumni medals; a poster session for students who participated in summer research; a health professions career panel and networking session; and a symposium featuring alumni scientists and honorary degree recipients.
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| Exterior of the new auditorium. | View of construction on the western side of the building. |
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--by Laura Trubiano '07
