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Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 | TheFranklinNews.com
New science center to impact students, faculty QUINN FITZGERALD
elizabeth.fitzgerald@franklincollege.edu
Kristen Bailey | The Franklin
The college is moving forward with until the very last stage, which will construction on a new science center renovate the existing building. to replace Barnes Hall by the fall of But the science building project 2018. isn’t a new idea. The Franklin began The building was officially approved reporting on the project as part of at the Board of Trustees meeting on the college’s long-term master plan Oct. 7. An all-campus email announce- in 2014. ment about the center followed that In 2015, former president Jay evening. Moseley said the In the email, building’s conpresident Thomas struction would Minar, who called begin after the the quest for the college reached renovation a “top 75 to 80 percent priority” in his first of the fundraisState of the College ing goal. address, said the Once connew science center struction begins, will help Franklin he said, the colCollege compete lege would seek in new student out the rest of the recruitment, as well funding. as educate current D e i d r a students. Baumgardner, the – Steve Browder, biology professor “It is critical for college’s commuthe future of the colnications direclege that we move forward as quickly tor, and Gail Lowry, vice president of as possible on this project,” Minar development and alumni engagement, said in the email. “In collaboration both declined to provide an updated with our science faculty, the updated estimate of the building’s cost or issue facility design for this renovation and any fundraising details. expansion will fully support our vision “With design and planning aspects of learning science by doing science.” still ongoing, cost and size estimates Minar said the college plans to break are not yet finalized,” Baumgardner ground on the project May 2017 and said in a statement to The Franklaunch construction no later than June lin. “No one can provide those as of 2017. yet, but we hope to be able to provide If construction goes as planned, more details in the near future. We do Minar said science professors will start know we are grateful for the philanteaching in the new facility in the fall thropic support of the project to date of 2018. and will continue to engage additional The current construction plan leaves support.” Barnes Hall open and fully functional
“
We believe that one year of inconvenince will be outweighed by many years of benefits of having that new facility.”
Submitted by Deidra Baumgardner
Created in 2015, this rendering shows the plan for the Barnes Hall renovation. The changes, set to be completed by fall of 2018, will add more study spaces and move the psychology department from Old Main.
Steve Browder, biology professor and science department representative, said the original $25 million project goal has been “scaled back” since. “It’s my understanding that there was some kind of money we had raised and money that was going to be borrowed,” he said. “But no, we have not raised $25 million.” Sophomore Akia Hilderbrand, who is a biology major and chemistry minor, said Barnes Hall is in need of an upgrade. “Change is almost always necessary to keep things up-to-date, that way, as students, we can always excel and learn with the greatest potential,” Hilderbrand said. “I love Barnes, but it is honestly a little outdated.” Browder said the problems during the estimated timeline for the project will be worth it in the long run.
“We’re just going to have to make the best of it that we can,” he said. “We believe that one year of inconvenience will be outweighed by many years of benefits of having that new facility.” These benefits, according to Browder, extend beyond the department and the science majors since everyone has to eventually take a science class. One benefit is the addition of more open study spaces for students. “You’re going to see students studying that aren’t science majors [in the study spaces],” Browder said “Maybe people that have gone to the library before. This is going to open a new place to study.” In addition to study spaces, the psychology department will be moved to the science building—something Browder said will benefit those stuSee “Science” page 4