Science II: Faculty and staff are moving in
The new Science Annex II will be completed in May.
The 71,000-square-foot project is the second addition to the trio of science buildings. The building sits on what was the faculty and staff parking lot across from the Swain Science Center and adjacent to the Smith Science Center.
The Annex II will centralize the College of Science on the main campus; a long-term goal of the University that will enhance collaboration between faculty and students. It will accommodate marine science, biology, chemistry and teaching spaces, and is predominantly reserved for science and research that focuses on environmental issues.The rooms on each floor will be specialized to accommodate biotic specimens, chemicals and ecological samples for the departments. The facility will feature approximately 30 classrooms, teaching and research labs, 10 lab preparatory rooms, 60 faculty and student offices, a seminar room, a large conference room, a roof terrace, two freezer rooms, three chemical storage rooms and an outdoor covered support space.
On each floor of Annex II, the floors and walls artistically depict areas of study. The Atrium has a shimmering fabric wall that flutters with the air conditioning to convey an oceanic environment. The biology floor showcases DNA molecules. A courtyard with local plants occupies the center area between the three buildings.
Upon completion of this $30 million project, the Smith Building will be renovated, with a complete replacement of the electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and ITS communications, along with roof renovations. Inside, a new fire suppression system will be installed. Finally, doors, brick and windows will be replaced. The Smith building will house the “dry sciences" such as mathematics, psychology, engineering science and physics.
College of Science Dean Michael Roberts says one of the biggest reasons for the new building is the expanding science program, “Since I’ve arrived here in 2007, it has grown from about 1,800 students to about 4,000 students.”
