The Education and Human Services Building is now open for students and faculty to visit and admire.

No matter what some may think about Central Michigan University’s spending habits right now, the EHS Building is one impressive feat that students should take the time to just walk through and admire.

The first time I walked through the building, I just remembered watching the building being constructed beginning in 2007.

I remembered having to walk very close to people’s windows when they moved the sidewalk close to the Washington Apartments. I remember the Christmas tree the steelworkers placed on the top of the steel work that stood for months. And after all of that, it’s practically a work of art.

The wooden ceilings are made of bamboo, according to a construction worker whom I spoke with the day it opened partially to the public. The auditorium has a very large screen and white boards for lectures.

There’s even a separate structure for children to put on puppet shows. And, the building is the greenest on CMU’s campus, and plans to apply for Platinum status through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design plan, the highest “green” rating possible.

It’s clear CMU has been waiting for this building for a long time. Founded originally as a teaching school, CMU still values educating future teachers, and Ronan Hall just wasn’t cutting it for a program such as that.

The first time I walked through Ronan, I remember thinking, “I bet they can’t wait to move into the new Education Building.” Sure enough, the morning I walked through the building, there was this sense of excitement around the building from the people moving in.

If you have the time, walk through the building on your way back from class. At a price tag of $50 million, it’s worth the self-tour.

E-mail the author: David Veselenak