renovating the science building renovating the science building: a faculty perspective
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Renovating the Science BuildingRenovating the Science Building:a faculty perspective
Our Science Building is Multidisciplinary
• Departments currently in building:– Biology– Chemistry– Earth Sciences and Science Education– Physics
• Other programs:– Great Lakes Center– Environmental Toxicology Labs– Physical Geography labs– McNair Program– Upward Bound program– New York State Health Department
• Specialized Facilities :– HIPERC– Science Education Center– Planetarium– Small Animal Facilities– Greenhouse– Radioactive Materials Storage– Volatile Chemical/ Gas Storage
• Potential additional occupants:– Mathematics Department
• would allow for more meaningful interactions with the sciences
– Animal Behavior labs from Psychology Department
• near small animal facilities that are shared with Biology
– Requires construction of additional space
The current state of our building- a brief tour…
1960’s “wedding cake design” Lobby is dark and uninviting
Long, dark, univiting hallways 1960’s style classrooms
Student Lounge
Student Lounge/Computer lab
Teaching labs are in poor condition
30 years worth of wear and tear
Faculty offices are behind labs or other offices
Classroom redeployed as computer lab/club
The renovated science building must provide modern spaces that allow programs to offer a pedagogically sound, modern learning
experience for the next 25-30 years
• Spaces must accommodate both traditional methods and new pedagogies for teaching math and science
BSC Science Building needs modern ventilation/hood systems to support teaching science and doing research
• Modern chemistry instructional labs require one hood per student and clear lines of sight
• Molecular Biology and Anatomy labs need good ventilation
• Geology/geochemistry often requires ventilation
Current Ventilation System in BSC Anatomy Lab
The Science Building requires air conditioning and climate control
BSC Research lab retrofitted for summer research
• Many programs run all summer– Faculty Research programs
– Undergraduate summer research
– Upward Bound
– Physics Alternative Certification
– Professional development programs
• Scientific instrumentation and computers often will not function above 78-85ºF
• Some instrumentation dumps heat into the space compounding the problem
• Building is currently too hot to grow yeast (requires 80ºF )
Corridors in building should be comfortable and inviting
• Spaces with light and seating encourage students to spend time in the building
• Students who have a sense of belonging are more likely to be retained
Modern science buildings incorporate spaces that bring people together and encourage interdisciplinary activities
• An atrium brings people together – Facilitates faculty-faculty, student-student, and faculty-student interactions
– Can serve as a forum for poster sessions, science and math open houses, etc.
Open stairways, clear site lines, and conversation nooks bring people together and encourage interdisciplinary activities
We need a building that gives Buffalo State Sciences a public face
• A facade that reflects the excellence in teaching and scholarship within
• An atrium can make a big impact both inside and outside the building
In contrast to what we currently
have….
Lobby
Main Entrance
Building elements should advertise who we are
• Building artwork can:– advertise our programs and research projects– acknowledge our many community partnerships
• Great Lakes Consortium • Zoo• Science Museum• Educational partnerships with the public schools
• Windows provide insight into how science is done
Consider the advantages of a State-of-the-art Planetarium
Dickenson Science Building Planetarium and Observatory-separate entrance to serve public access needs
• would give Buffalo State Sciences a higher profile, public face• would further strengthen our ties to the public schools
FNSS Science Building Planning Committee:
Kim Bagley - Chemistry (Chair)
Don Birdd-Science Education
Lisa Brooks - Psychology
Mike DeMarco - Physics
Kim Irvine- Geography and Planning
Harish Sikka - Great Lakes Laboratory
Gary Solar - Earth Science
Greg Wadsworth- Biology
David Wilson - Mathematics
We invite you to visit the building andwelcome your comments
To arrange a visit call 878-5933