Chemistry Building renovation nears completion

The renovated Chemistry Building is on schedule to reopen for Winter Term 2012. Faculty and staff plan to move back into the building in mid-December.

The 84-year-old-building, which has been closed for renovations since last May, received a major interior facelift with new ceilings, newly painted walls, and porcelain tiled walls and floors in the hallways and other areas.  

The three-story building now has a new heating and air-exchange system, including central air conditioning. Project architects are TMP Associates, which also renovated the Commerce & Finance Building several years ago.  

Chemistry Building Hallway still under construction

The entryway on the east side of the building was enlarged to create a lobby in which to congregate and hold receptions or small gatherings. The walls along this hall now include display monitors to project student research, videos and other visuals. A new glass-enclosed first-floor office suite adjoins the lobby. New light fixtures accentuate the art deco look in gathering spaces, and brighter, more energy-efficient lighting is used throughout the building.  

On the first floor, the men’s and women’s bathrooms were relocated and upgraded with new fixtures and counters. Several offices on the lower level, two upper-level classrooms and the Chemistry Club room were also renovated for aesthetics and improved functionality.  

One of the biggest changes in appearance is the cylindrical main lecture hall (Room 114), between the first and second levels. The lecture hall now has 12 rows of tiered seating. The upper rows have seats with fold-down desktops, framed by treetop-level windows. The lower tiers have tables and chairs with electrical service for student computers. The instructor’s platform includes a smart lectern, ceiling-mounted projectors and an expansive white board. As the largest classroom/lecture hall on campus, the room will seat about 200 students.  

Faculty and staff are scheduled to move back in to the building in mid-December. The next stage of building renovations will encompass further renovation of the Chemistry laboratories once funds have been raised.

Chemistry Building Rendering