After many years of planning, it is finally underway. This week we began construction of the new Integrated Center for Math and Science. This 74,000 sq. feet building is the largest new academic facility to be built on the Nazareth campus.
The need for the building has grown exponentially over the past decades. For example:
- Our undergraduates take a lab course as part of their core curriculum.
- We now have 900 students majoring in one of the health and human services fields.
- We are attempting to address the national need for more students who are well prepared to enter careers in math, science, technology and medicine.
- Nazareth has taken a lead in efforts to produce well qualified math and science teachers at the primary and secondary levels.
As a result of all these efforts, we have heavy demands on the existing math and science facilities.
The new building will include labs, classrooms, study spaces, faculty offices, and common areas. A unique feature are the spaces that will enable us to expand the opportunities for interdisciplinary and collaborative learning where students work with each other and with faculty on undergraduate research projects. These experiences allow the students to apply the material they are learning in the classroom and develop an appreciation for the theoretical as well as practical application of science and math. They are precisely the kind of educational experiences needed to meet the national demand for students who are well prepared for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. Finally, the new greenhouse will allow us to initiate an innovative horticulture therapy program.
We are proud that the Center also will be the first LEED certified “green” building on the campus. And, out of concern for the environment, we have agreed to plant a new tree for each one that is removed on the site.
This is an exciting moment in the College’s history, and I look forward to sharing the story of the construction of the Center over the next year. Please take a moment to LEARN MORE about the project.
