New Science Building tour shows construction is on schedule

Construction on MTSU’s new $147 million Science Building remains on schedule, with move-in set for fall 2014 and opening day for classes in spring 2015.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee looks out a window of the new Science Building during a recent tour of the $147 million structure, which is on schedule to open for classes in spring 2015. (Photos by MTSU News and Media Relations)

Staff with Turner Construction Co. recently gave President Sidney A. McPhee and a small group of university staff members a brief tour of the building, which has been under construction since May 2012.

The project will result in approximately 257,000 gross square feet for biology and chemistry, 37 class labs, two open labs, 13 research labs, six classrooms, faculty offices, numerous informal learning areas, and space for student presentations.

The university’s existing Wiser-Patten Science Hall and Davis Science Building were built in 1932 and 1967, respectively, and have a combined total of only 75,332 net square feet for classrooms, labs and offices.

Approximately 1,500 new student workstations will be provided in the labs and classrooms in the new building, which is being built on the south side of campus adjacent to the James E. Walker Library.

The U-shaped building features an abundance of glass windows on the interior shell to take advantage of natural light and includes a layered designed that will keep faculty offices close to student labs and work areas.

You can see photos of construction progress since the groundbreaking and take a virtual tour of the building by going to http://mtsunews.com/sciencebuilding/ and following the links.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)

Patti Miller, right, MTSU assistant vice president for campus planning, talks to President Sidney A. McPhee during a recent tour of the new Science Building.

Staff with Turner Construction Co. give MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and other university employees a brief tour of the new Science Building, which has been under construction since May 2012.

Construction workers are busy finishing the new $147 million MTSU Science Building.

Construction workers are busy at the new $147 million MTSU Science Building, which is on track to open for classes in spring 2015.

Staff with Turner Construction Co. recently gave President Sidney A. McPhee and other university staff a brief tour of the building.

Turner Construction Co. workers point out interior features during a brief building tour for Dr. McPhee and other university staff members.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and Dr. Bud Fischer, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, discuss progress on the new Science Building during a recent tour of the $147 million structure, which is on schedule to open for classes in spring 2015.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, left, and Dr. Bud Fischer, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, discuss progress on the new Science Building during a brief tour of the $147 million structure.