Construction workers. Fenced areas. Beautiful renderings.
Across campus there are signs everywhere that a new and renovated Science Building is coming. But this building is more than just a new space, it’s the future home to study sessions, lab lectures and innovative research.
On time and on budget, the Science Building will open for the Fall 2016 semester.
But until then, here are a few interesting facts about the building project:
- Experimental learning. There will be nearly 40 laboratories in the new Science Building —23 research labs and 14 teaching labs. In addition, there will be six recitation rooms adjacent to lab areas. These rooms are similar to classrooms, but are more suited for interactive group learning.
- Rock out. Display cases will be incorporated in student collaboration spaces and public areas to show off relics from the university’s magnificent geology collection.
- It’s easy being green. The building will meet LEED silver requirements, which means it will maximize energy efficiency and make the most out of renewable, sustainable resources by doing things like incorporating natural light into design and having efficient heating systems.
- Light fixture. Natural light will shine on all levels of the building—even the basement. There will be a light well in the centrally located student collaboration area.
Wall of wisdom. In the renovation, a wall was found with 40-plus years of writing from former students. Among the advice, James Puckett, Class of 1965, wrote, “Work hard, study hard, play hard and don’t mix the three.”
This $51 million renovation, which will transform science education on campus and provide modern equipment and labs, was funded in part by a $30 million capital outlay approved by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in June 2012.
