April 15, 2013 — Almost a Year Later and … Wow!

Workers travel on the stairwells behind the glass and metal “curtain wall” of Area D in MTSU’s new Science Building. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Passers-by who’ve missed a glance at MTSU’s $147 million science building for a week or two this spring always have the same reaction: “Hey! Look how much is done already!”

Six months after the first steel beams were raised in October 2012 and almost a year after the May 2012 groundbreaking, the building’s lecture halls in Area D are quickly taking shape with their curtain walls and metal-paneled penthouse and almost-complete brickwork. By now:

• Area D’s glazing and exterior masonry work is almost complete and metal panels are being installed in the penthouse;
• Area A’s concrete is complete and its roofing, exterior framing and concrete columns are underway;
• the monumental stairs in the atrium is done; and
• Area C glazing and curtain wall installation is ongoing.

By mid-April 2013, Turner Construction reported, the project had already accumulated 140,382 work hours, poured 7,920 cubic yards of concrete, installed 225,000 square feet of decking and hoisted 1,750 tons of steel.

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see more construction progress. You also can click here to read Turner Construction’s most recent newsletter on the project, and you can watch a CGI video showing the Science Building’s exterior and interior at mtsunews.com/science-building-cgi-video.

March 15, 2013 — Another Brick in the Walls

A brickmason carefully smoothes mortar between bricks in the veneer of the new Science Building. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Spring finally started busting out in Middle Tennessee in March, bringing unusually chilly days while crews continued construction on MTSU’s $147 million science building. The first brick was placed for the exterior veneer in late February, a major construction milestone. Only 110,000 bricks left to go! By now:

• the roof of Area D is almost complete and its penthouse fireproofing and structural steel work in the lecture halls is done;
• Area D’s interior walls, exterior masonry and waterproofing are still underway;
• the electrical rough-in is ongoing in Area A, along with elevated slab pours; and
• the exterior framing and sheathing of Area C, along with steam line work for the entire structure, are continuing.

By March 2013, Turner Construction reported, the project had already accumulated 102,000-plus work hours, poured 6,000 cubic yards of concrete, installed 225,000 square feet of decking and hoisted 1,750 tons of steel.

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see more construction progress. You also can click here to read Turner Construction’s most recent newsletter on the project.

Feb. 15, 2013 — No Longer Just a Shell

Wallboard is covering more of the 250,000-plus gross square feet of MTSU’s new Science Building in February 2013. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

A warmer-than-usual winter for Middle Tennessee, while rainy, has allowed steady work to continue on MTSU’s $147 million science building. Windows are being installed, and wallboard is covering more and more of the skeletal steel of the 250,000-plus gross square feet of research laboratories and learning spaces. The building’s C-shape is even more noticeable as empty areas are filled in or covered. By now:

• structural steel work in Areas A and B is complete and concrete slabs have been poured in the Area C penthouse and the third floor’s elevated Area C;
• walls, framing and roofing is under way in Area D and steam line installation is ongoing throughout the facility; and
• water- and fire-proofing of Area D is continuing.

By February 2013, Turner Construction reported, the project had already accumulated 65,000-plus work hours, poured 3,550 cubic yards of concrete, installed 225,000 square feet of decking and hoisted 1,750 tons of steel.

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see more construction progress. You also can click here to read Turner Construction’s most recent newsletter on the project.

Jan. 14, 2013: Look at It Grow!

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee joins the assembled crowd to applaud as the final steel beam is raised into place at the Science Building construction site Jan. 11. You can read more about the event by clicking on the photo above. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Rainy winter days haven’t slowed work on MTSU’s $147 million science building, where steel work was officially completed Jan. 11 with a special “topping out” ceremony placing the final steel beam for the building’s skeleton.

By now:

• concrete slabs are done and the concrete masonry walls and roofing are under way in Area D, along with steam line work for the entire building;
• Area C deep underground utilities are complete, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is under way; and
• deck pours and penthouse work for Area C and exterior framing sheathing for Area D are on the agenda.

By the first of January 2013, Turner Construction reported, the project had already accumulated 59,000-plus work hours, poured 2,950 cubic yards of concrete, installed 200,000 square feet of decking and hoisted 1,750 tons of steel.

A view from the Walker Library roof shows the new neighbor at dusk in late December. (Photo courtesy of Turner Construction Co.)

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see more construction progress. You also can click here to read Turner Construction’s most recent newsletter on the project.

Dec. 14, 2012: Putting Up Walls

An early-morning panoramic view of MTSU’s new science building site, provided via the OxBlue Construction Camera Service, shows the progress of the three-story project. (Photo courtesy of Turner Construction Co.)

Seven months after ground was broken on MTSU’s $147 million science building, walls are going up and the three-story building is becoming a part of the university skyline. By now:

• steel work is complete in Area D (see key at upper right), along with the load-bearing walls for the auditorium lecture hall and all domestic water connections and primary electrical feeds to the entire building;
• Area C steel work is almost complete, and deep underground utilities and steam-line work is ongoing; and
• Area B steel work, temporary building power and the roof on Area D are on the agenda.

A worker inspects a steel beam in the new science building in early December. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

By the first of December, Turner Construction reported, the project had already accumulated 39,000-plus work hours, poured 1,450 cubic yards of concrete, installed 110,000 square feet of decking and hoisted 1,500 pieces of steel.

Workers supervise the crane’s placement of steel beams on the third floor of MTSU’s new science building. This photo also shows several MTSU facilities, including the old Photography Building, Learning Resource Center, Corlew Hall and the Keathley University Center, as well as the tops of the Wright Music Building and Floyd Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Turner Construction Co.)

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see more construction progress. You also can click here to read Turner Construction’s most recent newsletter on the project.

Nov. 14, 2012: Moving Forward

A “True Blue” banner is in the foreground of this Nov. 14 photo showing the progress of the Science Building’s “Area D” on the southeast corner of the site. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

By mid-November, barely six months after groundbreaking:

• Area D, the southeast portion of the new Science Building, is moving fastest at this point, with 98 percent of its steel work complete and the slab floors being prepared;
• deep underground work on Area B, the northeast corner of the building, as well as domestic water connections are complete, and primary electrical feeds are more than half-done; and
• underground and communication duct work are next on Area A, the building’s southeast leg, along with steel work on Area C, the north-facing front section of the building.

By Nov. 8, Turner Construction reported, the project had already accumulated 29,000 work hours, poured 1,300 cubic yards of concrete, installed 70,340 square feet of decking and hoisted 760 pieces of steel.

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see more construction progress. You also can click here to read Turner Construction’s own newsletter about the project.

Oct. 12, 2012: Raise the Beams!

MTSU photo by Andy Heidt

Employees for Turner Construction Co. raise the first beams Oct. 11 on MTSU’s new Science Building. The new building, which faces the quad and is bordered by Alumni Drive to the south, will provide more than 250,000 gross square feet of teaching, faculty and student research laboratories and collaborative learning spaces. You can see more of the progress in Turner Construction’s own newsletter, which is available here.

 

Summer 2012: Moving Earth

MTSU photo by Andy Heidt

Earth moving, scraping and grading is almost completed less than two months after groundbreaking at the new Science Building site. This view, photographed Aug. 1, shows construction progress looking south from the roof of the Learning Resource Center.

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see more construction progress.

  

 

May 3, 2012: Groundbreaking

MTSU photo by Andy Heidt

Let the work begin! Dignitaries jubilantly toss the ceremonial first shovels of dirt for MTSU’s long-awaited $147 million Science Building on May 3, 2012. The turn of the shovels also was the official construction launch for the building, which is aiming for a spring 2015 opening date. From left are Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, state Rep. Joe Carr, Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor John Morgan, state Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, Gov. Bill Haslam, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, state Sen. Bill Ketron, state Rep. Rick Womick, state Sen. Jim Tracy, state Rep. Mike Sparks and state Rep. Pat Marsh. Almost obscured at far right is 2011-12 MTSU Student Government President Jeremy Poynter.

The turn of the shovels also was the official construction launch for the building, which is aiming for a spring 2015 opening date. Haslam said the building will help address the state’s need for more college graduates, especially in STEM areas—science, technology, engineering and math. The governor included almost $127 million for construction of the Science Building in his 2012-13 state budget. About $20 million was spent to prepare for the facility, which is being built by New York City-based Turner Construction Co.’s Brentwood operations.

For more details about the facility, please visit mtsunews.com/sciencebuilding.