Two buildings to be added

Two new buildings, a multi-disciplinary science building and a small building composed of lecture halls, will soon be constructed on campus, while the first stages of development for a humanities building have just begun. \nThe new science building will house representatives from all fields and -- for the first time -- allow for better cross-discipline research. It will tentatively be located between Myers Hall and the Chemistry Building.\n"The nature of scientific research has changed so much that many researchers and teams are working with people from different disciplines," said professor Tom Gieryn, Rudy Professor of Sociology and member of the faculty council Capital Projects Committee. "We need a space where scientists from different fields can work together."\nThe first phase of the project will cost $30 million. The second phase has yet to receive state appropriation, but it is the "highest construction priority" on campus as designated by the Capital Projects Committee. It is anticipated that the official ground-breaking ceremony will be held next April, with completion of the building estimated to be around 2006.\n"This is an extremely important project that will provide space for research in the life-sciences, biology, chemistry, medical sciences and biophysics," said Maynard Thompson, vice chancellor for budgetary administration and planning.\nA new classroom building will contain a number of large lecture halls to be used by the Kelley School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences. It will also be the site for the largest lecture hall on campus -- with a capacity of 500. \nThe building will cost the state $10.5 million. \nThe new building will aggravate the continuous parking dilemma. It is to be located southwest of the Main Library, near the Radio and TV building -- but over part of the existing parking lot.\nGieryn said there was little choice for location. \n"The campus just faces a terrible crunch in terms of space," Gieryn said. "We've known that for years, and it's getting worse and worse."\nFreshman Will Glass said there's no need for a big parking lot at the library.\n"That thing is always packed," he said. "But people can either take the bus or walk."\nStill in its very nascent stages is the creation of a new humanities building, called the Arts and Sciences Classroom and Office building. Along with Ballantine Hall, it would be home for all the humanities currently scattered across campus.\nThe disciplines are now located in haphazard places such as Ashton, a house on Fess Street and Goodbody and Sycamore Halls. \n"It would be very helpful if we could regroup the humanities departments so units with shared intellectual interests could be located in close proximity to each other," said David Zaret, executive associate dean of COAS. \nThe new building would also alleviate the overcrowding in Ballantine Hall.\n"There is a real need to increase the amount of space for offices and classrooms in arts and in humanities -- but also to reorganize," Gieryn said. \nThe humanities building won't be constructed in the near future, Zaret said. The drastic cuts made in the state budget this biennium have stalled the project for now. By the time funding is approved and construction is underway, the building will not be complete for another six or seven years.