Psychology Building additions finally complete

In the early 1980s, building an addition to the Psychology Building was a top priority. Decades later, the blueprints were folded, and the vision became a reality.\nThe present Psychology Building opened in 1964. In the early 1990s, several labs relocated to the Hillcrest Psychology Annex. After planning and securing funds, the 21-month construction project began in 2000.\n"The project took the amount of time it did (because it) required securing of the funding, as well as the go-ahead from the University," said Heather Winne, media and communication coordinator of the Department of Psychology. "While the project was at the top of the list of things that were necessary within the University, it often got bumped down by other projects that came along."\nWith the extra 23,000 square foot expansion, new offices and laboratories will be provided for faculty and students.\nJoseph Steinmetz, chairman of the department, said students will be now able to conduct their experiments in a modern facility. He said the expansion of research space will lead to the hiring of new faculty. \n"High quality research spaces should be able to attract outstanding researchers to IU," Steinmetz said. "The addition will house new research laboratories and office space for postdoctoral scholars and visiting scientists." \nWinne said the expansion will benefit how students learn and will affect the overall quality of their education.\n"The Department of Psychology will be able to do their job more effectively, which improves the quality of the school, and the education psychology students receive," Winne said.\nProfessor of Psychology Esther Thelen said the Infant Motor Development Lab, which has been located in the psychology department since 1985, has also benefited from the expansion.\n"We have a much better situation for our motion analysis equipment, which will allow us to learn more about infants' movements," Thelen said. "We are finally able to separate the data analysis from the data collection."\nBesides aesthetics and comfort, Dale Sengelaub, professor of Psychology and Neural Science, said he is grateful for the appropriate storage space, adequate lighting, and ample work surfaces.