KETTERING UNFINISHED

Construction Still Looms on North Quad Horizon

Construction continues on the science complex in the North quad with no end in near sight.

The first stage of completion is scheduled for July 2001. During stage two the chemistry department will move into the new building. The biology department will then temporarily move into the chemistry spaces so that the renovations of Kettering, Sperry and Wright can occur. The last stage, not due for completion until June 2002, will involve moving the biology department back and finishing renovations.

The ground breaking of the science center coincided with the November kick-off of the capitol campaign. The campaign, entitled "The Oberlin New Century" is hoping to raise $165 million, the largest capital campaign in the Collegešs history. The $55 million cost of constructing Science Center comes from the campaign. $10 million of the campaign money will also go to the Science Center as an endowment for running the facility.

"In order to attract the best faculty, we need equipment to allow them to continue their research. Still, the lack of research space for students is the biggest current problem," said David Love, science project executive and co-chair, Science Facilities Committee in an interview last November.

Joining Sperry, Wright and Kettering, the facility will contain a larger Science Library and creating more modern facilities including labs, classroom spaces and lecture halls.

"The new Center will have modern lecture halls with proper lighting and electronic media...they'll be smart classrooms," said Albert Matlin, co-chair, Science Facilities Committee in the November interview.

The construction will not only improve the science facilities, but Love and Matlin also hope that it will attract students outside the sciences. "Kettering and Sperry are like a science fortress. No one goes in there if they don't have to. We want to design a building that's not just a science building, but an Oberlin College building used for science," Love said.

"It's on schedule and on budget," said Love about the current progress. He stressed the importance of remaining on schedule, especially during the second phase of construction, so as not to disrupt classes.