News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Tech will open its $93 million Lab Science Building when the Spring Semester begins.
Department of Chemistry Chair Jeff Boles said moving thousands of chemicals and infrastructure for faculty research has been a task, but the building is ready for classes. Boles said all the Lab Science Commons classrooms will be open and COVID guidelines have been set for capacity.
“Just to use one classroom as an example, one of the pairs of classrooms that we have, normally would seat 72,” Boles said. “But, they only seat 27 with social distancing.”
Boles said about half of the professors have moved in and estimates about 38 professors will work in the building. Boles said the move is ongoing because of moving mid-year, and some equipment cannot be moved until after the semester.
“Some classes may start out in Foster Hall and may finish in the Laboratory Science Commons,” Boles said. “Some classes will start and end in the LSC and some of the classes actually will not be able to be moved until probably the end of this semester.”
Boles said one big change is how lectures will occur. He said A/V systems are being put into labs to save space.
“We have audio/video equipment, projectors and screens in the laboratories and teaching stations in the laboratories,” Boles said. “The pre-laboratory lectures that are given in the new building are actually given in the laboratories. Instead of taking up valuable classroom space, which is the way it’s been historically.”
Boles said the move into the 165,000 square foot building started in phases during the Fall semester. He said students will be interested to know that Einstein Bagels will be in the building and ready to serve when the semester begins.
