Pocono News Section

Work Begins on New S.U. Science Building

Work Begins on New S.U. Science Building - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 4:49PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 @ 04:49pm EST
Selinsgrove, Snyder County-

Construction is underway on a new $33 million science building at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove. When it's completed, it will be the largest academic building on campus, and the most environmentally-friendly.

Dr. Lucien Winegar, Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, explained, "This is a science building that's been many years in the planning. It's a science building that will help us do the quality of science teaching that we do at institutions like Susquehanna, and we're all very excited about it."

Construction equipment sits on what used to be a parking lot at Susquehanna University. By autumn of 2010, this empty lot will be transformed into a 75,000 square foot, state-of-the-art science building.

That has students here buzzing.

Sophomore Biology major Lindsay Bailey, of Wilkes-Barre, said, "I think the idea is really good because when we start senior research and our projects that we have to do for that, we'll be at the new building and it seems like there'll be a lot more facilities. And the whole green idea is really good too."

The school's science majors have outgrown Fischer, their current building. The new science building will be significantly larger than the old one. And it's being built with an environmentally friendly focus.

Water usage is expected to be reduced 30 percent, energy costs should be lowered significantly, and recycled materials will be used in the construction.

Dr. Winegar noted, "I think the science students recognize that where they do their work is very important. And I think the quality of not only the teaching space, but most particularly the advanced research space, is exciting to all the students."

Bailey added, "I hear the actual labs that we're going to be doing our experiments in are going to be all hi-tech devices and everything else, so it'll give us a better opportunity to get the research done."

Once the new building is complete, Fisher will once again be renovated and used for psychology and physics classes, as well as office space.

The new science building has not yet been named. It's being paid for through a combination of grant money, fundraising, and borrowing.