An Upgrade for Investigators
Work begins to refit a 鈥楽putnik-era鈥� Science Building.
Just weeks after 51福利社鈥檚 glittering new Interdisciplinary Science Center opened its doors, construction began on the $45 million first phase of a Science Building renovation 鈥� a companion project that promises to usher in a new era of research and discovery at Eastern.
The Science Building, dubbed the 鈥淗all of Sciences鈥� upon its completion
听in 1962, is long overdue for an update, says David Bowman, dean of Eastern鈥檚 College of STEM.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 a Sputnik-era building designed for Sputnik-era science,鈥� Bowman told Eastern magazine earlier this year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just not designed for modern stuff; it鈥檚 really, really challenging to do contemporary science in that building.鈥�
These Cold War capabilities will end up in the dustbin of Eastern history when the renovated building is completed in four years.
These Cold War capabilities will end up in the dustbin of Eastern history when the renovated building is completed in four years. Plans call for Leone & Keeble, the Spokane construction firm at work on the project, to implement a flexible, carefully engineered space that will assist Eastern鈥檚 scientists and scholars in pursuing today鈥檚 increasingly complex, interdisciplinary investigations.
Though most science instruction for students will take place next door in the ISC, the steel and glass skyways connecting the two buildings are more than symbolic. The links emphasize, according to Bowman, Eastern鈥檚 stress on including students 鈥� undergraduates included 鈥� on even the most advanced investigations.
鈥淔or the College of STEM, engaging students in faculty research is key,鈥� he says.
