Stetson begins construction of addition to Sage Hall Science Center

Construction is now under way on an $8.5 million addition to the Sage Hall Science Center at Stetson University. The 22,074-square-foot, two-story addition is being built on the front side (west side) of Sage Hall. It is scheduled to open for classes next January. Students and faculty are able to use Sage Hall during construction.

Biology Professor Terry Farrell has been taking weekly photographs from three locations to document the construction progress. Check out the slide show here.

The addition, being constructed by PPI Construction Management of Gainesville, will increase space for science education at Stetson by nearly 50 percent. It will include laboratories and offices to be used primarily by the Biology and Chemistry departments. The facility will house state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation, including equipment purchased with $2.75 million in federal funding received in 2001 and 2002 through the assistance of U.S. Rep. John Mica.

"Our science program is strong by national standards and deserves space that will support the kind of teaching that is our mission -- faculty and undergraduates working closely together to learn about science, but also to do science, with all the excitement that discovery brings," said Dr. Grady Ballenger, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Fundraising has begun for a future, second phase of the project -- a major renovation to the existing 45,000-square-foot Sage Hall building. In that phase, the Environmental Science and Integrative Health Science departments will move into the science center, and all spaces will be reconfigured to promote interdisciplinary research. The building's middle corridor will be incorporated into a large atrium designed to bring more light and a central lobby to the center.

To view a rendering, learn more about the project or find out how you can be part of this exciting project, follow these links:

Rendering
Take a look at what the Sage Hall Science Center will look like when construction is finished.

President
Read President Doug Lee’s overview of Stetson’s plans to update its Science Center.

The Need
Find out why the university needs the addition and renovation to better serve science at Stetson.

Science is Academic
Discover why science is important to so many students at Stetson.

New Center
Read how the new Sage Hall Science Center will impact science education here.

Look Closer
Learn about the details of the entire project.

Give
Find out how you can support the advancement of science education at Stetson.

Naming Opportunities
See a floor plan and a list of naming opportunities for spaces – large and small – in the facility.

Slide Show
Biology Professor Terry Farrell has been taking weekly photographs from three locations to document the construction progress. Check out the slide show here.

Science Stories
Read about some of Stetson's outstanding science students, the research they're doing as undergraduates and how they plan to use their knowledge in science careers.