Science II opens; but construction continues
By NYRIE KARKAZIAN
Finishing touches are still being put on the new $22 million Science
II Building located on the northeast side of campus.
The building opened for classes on Wednesday although it has not been
completely finished.
“All the buildings are accessible and safe to occupy,” Gary
Wilson, university architect and project director, said in a press release.
“A few areas are still under construction but they are clearly marked
with barricades and signs. We ask everyone to please honor those restricted
areas as construction teams work hard to finish the last details,”
Wilson said.
Construction is visible around the building, which is lined with yellow
tape blocking off restricted areas.
Inside the building, classroom numbers are written on pieces of paper
and taped to the walls and doors because the signs have not yet been finished;
and a beautiful view of mud and dirt can be seen from the inside balcony.
During the first few days of school, escorts will be available to direct
students to their classes, along with an information desk set up outside
of the building.
“There were people everywhere willing and ready to help direct so
that students weren’t just standing around wasting time; it helped
the flow of traffic,” said Carina Karakashian, a senior who is taking
Introduction to Armenian Studies there.
Karakashian said she did notice the construction everywhere, but said
it was not disturbing while she was in class.
The 71,000-square-foot structure is the largest building on campus since
the completion of the Kremen School of Education Building in 1994.
It includes lecture halls, instructional labs, graduate research and special
instructional areas, the Science and Mathematics dean’s complex
and 109 faculty office spaces. The classrooms can hold around 900 students
at one time.
“There are ample and first-rate laboratory facilities for Earth
and Environmental Science, Physics and Psychology that will open up many
new research opportunities for both our students and faculty,” Dr.
Robert Levine, associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics
said in the press release.
Due to bad weather conditions some of the construction and landscaping
has been delayed, but according to Wilson the building should be finalized
by Feb.1.
A formal public dedication of the new facility will be held on March 11
and an open house will be held on March 12.
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