A groundbreaking event Thursday at Eastern Kentucky University marked the official start of phase two construction of the school's new science building. Biological Sciences Professor Malcolm Frisbee says the 155,000 square foot building will allow for more hands on teaching and research. "For example in the biological sciences, the department has designed a specific suite for genomic research, we've got a couple of suites for biomedical research. On the geography and geology side, they have designed a couple of spaces specifically for geotechnical research that would involve things like GIS and remote sensing," said Frisbee.
Frisbee says construction of phase one and two of the science building project goes hand in hand with today's emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM areas. Frisbee expects EKU's enrollment to increase in those disciplines. "In biological sciences, the number of majors in the biological sciences has been growing, even in our old facilities. We would expect that those enrollments would continue to go up," added Frisbee.
The $66 million phase two structure will attach to the existing science building, which opened in 2011. The new building is expected to welcome students in the fall of 2017.?
