You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

Science Complex will be completed in one phase

By Carole Leigh Engblom
July 30, 2007

At its June meeting, the St. Olaf Board of Regents took an important step forward in the life of St. Olaf College by resolving to build the new Science Complex all at once, rather than in two phases as had been planned. This will allow the entire building to open in fall 2008.

The college will renovate Old Music Hall, which will become part of the Science Complex, during the 2008-09 academic year.

"The board took this step despite the fact that we have not yet raised the $33 million in gifts and pledges required to complete this project," says President David R. Anderson '74. "Our current attainment stands at $25 million. Thus, we still need to raise another $8 million in gifts and pledges, and we will continue to be intensely focused on that goal.

"The momentum we are experiencing in fundraising, the compelling financial arguments for building the entire new structure at once, and -- most of all -- the educational benefits students will experience from the new building all influenced the board's bold move."

The Board of Regents' decision to complete the new portion of the Science Complex in one phase will significantly affect the college's mathematics and science programs.

"The new Science Complex embodies our desire for greater interdisciplinarity and for space that naturally promotes interactions between students and faculty. Being separated for several years between the new Science Complex and our existing spaces would have negatively impacted our ability to accomplish these goals," says Dave Van Wylen '80, professor of biology and dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Included in the spaces that will now be completed in a single phase is the Science Library, a magnificent learning center that will be appreciated by students, faculty and staff across campus.

"I know I speak on behalf of my colleagues and across campus by saying that we deeply appreciate the board's willingness to move forward with the project," says Van Wylen.

Contact Carole Engblom at 507-786-3271 or leigh@stolaf.edu.