Eastern Michigan University is moving forward with the
largest construction project in school history, the $100
million Mark Jefferson Science Complex.
The EMU Board of Regents unanimously voted to proceed
with the renovation of the existing Mark Jefferson building
and new construction to make the Mark Jefferson Science
Complex at its regular meeting Jan. 19.
 |
SCIENCE ELEVATED: The EMU Board of Regents
gave
its approval for the University to move forward
with a
$100 million Mark Jefferson Science Complex,
which
will include renovation of the existing 180,802-
square-foot-building
and 151,000 square feet of new
construction. |
"This is an exciting project because the new complex will
be a regional science center that focuses on science education," said
John A. Fallon, III, president of Eastern Michigan University. "It
increases opportunities for more undergraduate and graduate
research for both students and faculty, and will make a
greater impact on our teacher education program."
The estimated cost of the entire project is $100 million.
The plan encompasses $26.7 million for renovation of the
180,802-square-foot-building and $73.3 million for 151,000
square feet of new construction.
The project will be primarily funded through the sale
of bonds. The majority of the repayment of the bonds will
be funded from the 4-percent tuition and fee increase approved
by the Board for this purpose in fall 2005.
"The scope of this renewal project will rehabilitate Mark
Jefferson's infrastructure. Furthermore, this renovation
will renew a mix of laboratory and classroom spaces to
support general education/basic studies curriculum, undergraduate
and graduate programming and faculty/student research," said
Janice M. Stroh, EMU's vice president for business and
finance. "With these improvements, the University will
be able to expand its curriculum to meet the needs of today's
scientific educators and to be competitive among universities
of comparable size and instructional mission."
The renovations and modernization of the Mark Jefferson
Science Complex Project have been identified in the University's
Five Year Capital Outlay Plan since 1998.
Constructed in 1969 at a cost of $8.2 million, the five-story
Mark Jefferson building houses the primary facilities for
the College of Arts and Sciences, including biology, chemistry,
physics and psychology.
The building is named for Mark Jefferson, head of the
geography department at EMU from 1901-39. Jefferson had
received numerous distinguished awards for his work as
an educator and geographer. In 1918-19, he was cartographer
to the World War I peace commission in Paris that negotiated
the Treaty of Versailles.
With the approval of the plan, EMU has invested more than
$350 million in new construction in the past 10 years.
Other projects include the recently completed EMU Student
Center, the new Marshall Building, which houses the College
of Health and Human Services; the College of Education
(renovated Porter Building) and the Bruce T. Halle Library.
Editor's Note: Look for news from the Jan. 23 press
conference to appear in the Jan. 30 issue of FOCUS EMU.
