It is difficult not to notice construction signs, especially when they are just outside the classroom. The construction going on inside the Math and Geoscience Building is distracting. What is the big deal with the project anyway? Why could it not have been done when students are not in class trying to learn? But it seems this project is more important than meets the eye.
From the outside, it seems as though this is a small project, but it is actually larger than it appears to be. What is being done on the inside involves expanding and remodeling. The construction will actually benefit students and staff who frequent the building.
One of the key remodels of this project is to bring the inconveniently located Math Learning Center (MLC) into the Math and Geoscience Building. Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Suzanne Seigneur, explained how the center has brought about such a great success with students that the math department would like to incorporate the facility in the actual math building. It makes sense and it may help those students who need help with math but cannot find the resources due to confusion with the current location of the MLC. In addition, with the growing number of math graduates, the department will receive more office space.
According to a Bronco Update posted on Feb. 21, another aspect of the remodel is the addition of new labs and resources for the Biomolecular Research Center, which is introducing two new degree programs in bioinformatics and biomolecular studies. So a lot of the construction is particular and customary for these needs, leading to a long process of reconstruction.
In fact, Seigneur said the project is expected to continue until about the end of August.
“The goal is not to disrupt students,” Seigneur said. “But in this case we couldn’t avoid it.”
There was not exactly a perfect time to start the project since it is such a large renovation and reconstruction, but the university and construction team have taken immense efforts to decrease the impact it has on students and staff. For example, the project team took a great deal of time relocating classes in order to avoid disrupting students and professors with the intrusive noises.
Mathematics Professor Marion Scheepers, who normally teaches his classes in the Math and Geoscience Building, has had all of his classes relocated.
“It’s not ideal, but it’s not too bad,” Scheepers said.
The construction project has been somewhat of an inconvenience for him as his classes are sporadically located and are not accessible to the computer labs that were provided for students in the math and geoscience classrooms, but overall the effects have not been overbearing. His only concern, however, is the limited space and resources available for summer programs that the building had previously provided.
Though this intrusive and mildly inconvenient project will continue through the end of this semester, the benefits outweigh the cost. The building is quite old; it could use some good remodeling. And the gain of having the MLC in an actual mathematics building is sure to provide a great benefit for students.
There are few classes still operating in the building during the process, but construction hours do not always conflict with class times.
So, for those who are enduring through this construction, hold tight. It will not be forever and when it ends it will be worth all the ear plugging and teeth grinding.
