Pace University said it has completed the first phase of a $7.2 million science lab renovation in the third largest construction project to date on the Pleasantville campus.
To accommodate a surge in biology majors ”“ some 40 percent in the past seven years ”“the school is expanding its biology research facility and installing a new molecular and cell biology lab.
“The building before the renovation had biology downstairs and chemistry upstairs and now we”™re integrating the sciences, so that students taking biology and chemistry will intermingle,” said Richard Schlesinger, an associate dean for academic affairs. “One of the major improvements will be a gallery atrium hallway.”
The atrium, which will replace a narrow hallway, will have an open staircase and tables and chairs for students to congregate.
An environmental science suite will be added as well.
“The goal is to increase research space for the growing sciences department and to modernize some of the laboratories,” Schlesinger said. “The architect took the existing footprint since we couldn”™t expand the building (because of the cost) and managed to recover floor space that was not used effectively.”
About half of Dyson Hall will be renovated.
The first phase of construction began in May and was concluded last month. The second phase is expected to begin in the spring and should be finished by next fall, Schlesinger said.
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About $5.4 million in capital improvement funding was provided by The Dyson Foundation in Millbrook as part of a larger $7.5 million gift announced in 2007 that incorporated scholarship assistance. The remaining $1.8 million was allocated by the New York State Higher Education Capital Matching Grants program.
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“This funding is accelerating the direct involvement of students in laboratory research,” said Pace University President Stephen Friedman at the time of project announcement. “Students who study here will become tomorrow”™s advanced professionals in fields like cancer research and forensics, and be sought after for environmental jobs in business, government and nonprofit organizations.”
Schlesinger said that some eight years ago when he was recruited as chairman of biology, interest and growth in science-related fields seemed to be on an upward turn.
“We revamped the entire curriculum and modernized it,” he said. “We also made research with a faculty mentor a requirement in the curriculum instead of being an elective, so all students that are biology majors now will have the ability to have a lab experience. Plus, there is also an increase in interest in the field in terms of the genome project and some of the environmental issues.”
Schlesinger said faculty are required to participate in research-oriented studies.
Biology is Pace University”™s third largest major, he said.
The project manager is Pavarini Construction Co. Inc., which operates multiple offices.
The project architect is TPG Architecture L.L.P. in Long Island.
Total square footage of the Dyson Hall project is 26,000 square feet, according to the TPG Architecture portfolio.
The estimated completion date is fall 2010.
