No timeline set for biosciences building’s construction as some students lament Brooks Hall’s fate

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Concrete plans for the new biosciences building have not yet come to fruition three months after funding was approved by the state.

“The capital outlay bill for a new biosciences building begins a lengthy process and no timeline has been established for moving forward with this project,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management.

Central Michigan University’s proposed $65 million biosciences building received $30 million from the December 2010 capital outlay bill after state approval; it will house research, lab rooms and teaching facilities for biotechnology and medical classes.

Matt Igleski, a Grand Rapids graduate teaching assistant, said he questions the progress of the new biosciences building, what programs would be there and what would remain in Brooks Hall.

He has had less than an exceptional experience studying in Brooks since 2008, he said, especially after the summer 2010 flooding.

“I was in the field doing my research most of the time, but when I did occasionally return to drop off samples, I had limited access to my lab and office,” Igleski said.

Lawrence said CMU was engaged in a multi-million dollar remodeling project to upgrade Brooks when the damage occurred.

“The facility suffered extensive water damage last summer when a chilled water pipeline unexpectedly broke that was a part of the renovation project,” Lawrence said. “Repairs were completed as quickly as possible and classes were relocated to other buildings to minimize the impact on students and faculty.”

Ohio graduate student Jessica Sherman said many projects were put on hold and research was displaced, but she thought the university did the best they could.

“I don’t know how it could have been handled better,” she said.

Sherman said the flooding did not make Brooks’ infrastructure worse; rather, the issues with the building all go back to how old it is.

Holly junior Jenna Newman said she would love it if a new building replaced Brooks since it is one of the core science buildings and the science programs are growing. Though students can learn and do well because of the program’s exceptional professors, she said, there is not enough room for them.

“I think we need more space because our departments are growing so quickly and new equipment would be very beneficial,” she said.

Igleski voiced his concerns regarding ongoing construction on Brooks at the Feb. 17 CMU Board of Trustees meeting.

“Capital improvements are apparent all over campus — new expansions for recreational buildings, buildings for newly-formed programs, investments into interactive directories, et cetera,” Igleski said. “Still, current programs and students are trying to utilize older buildings such as Brooks and are left to fend for themselves.”

The programs in Brooks and the building itself need more funding, Igleski said, because it houses highly productive students and faculty who write external grants that bring in new state-of-the-art equipment to do their research. He said they also publish papers that provide CMU with national exposure while providing undergraduates with a quality education.

Igleski said he hopes for a response from the board.

“It seems like I talk to a wall most of the time.”