VCU $125M STEM Building
Virginia Commonwealth University hopes to see student innovation blossom in the expanded laboratory space the facility brings to campus. VCU $125M STEM Building ribbon-cutting ceremony brings added lab, classroom and office space to the university’s College of Humanities and Sciences. VCU estimates that more than 10,000 students will take up to 70 courses in the building every semester, starting in the coming fall semester. There will be 17 academic departments housed in the building. Most VCU students will take at least one class in the building on the road to graduation.
“Imagine a biology student teaming up with a math major to work through data from an experiment which will lead to the development of a theoretical mathematical model. … Or a physics student and chemistry student who work together for an energy solution that later involves hands-on learning in one of our faculty labs. That will happen here,” Humanities and Sciences Interim Dean Catherine Ingrassia said in remarks during the ribbon-cutting event.
STEM Building
The STEM building has 32 teaching labs and touts a plant-growing room and crime-scene lab, as well as two 250-seat classrooms, a 75-person classroom and 100-seat classroom, and math and science tutoring spaces among other facilities. Courses taught in the building will be in subjects such as biology, forensic science, math, psychology, physics and kinesiology.
VCU announced the project in 2019, and construction has been underway since 2020.
The building’s overall price tag includes construction costs and equipment. The project was fully funded by the state.
Ballinger and Quinn Evans architects designed the building. Hourigan was the project’s general contractor.
Construction is largely complete, save for punch-list items. Academic departments are expected to move into the building by Aug. 15, when the building will be considered officially opened, according to Sally Hunnicutt, faculty and academic affairs associate dean.
VCU President Michael Rao, VCU Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos and Hunnicutt also shared remarks at the building’s ribbon cutting.
Source: VCU $125M STEM Building
https://www.techedmagazine.com/category/news-by-industry/stem/