Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Roanoke College Breaks Ground on New Science Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/25/24

Roanoke College in Salem, Va., recently broke ground on the first phase of a new Science Center, according to a college news release. The three-phase project will transform three buildings on campus into a new STEM hub for academics and research. The first phase of construction entails the demolition of a 1970s-era auditorium building to make room for a $30-million academic building.

The news release reports that once the new facility is completed, it will play home to some of the school’s most popular degree programs and house about one-third of all courses on campus. Amenities will include lab space, interactive study spaces, collaboration space, and technology upgrades. The college partnered with architecture firm VMDO for the project’s design.

“Every future student, regardless of major will take science, technology, engineering and mathematics in that facility as part of their educational foundation,” said Bettie Sue Masters ‘59, a member of the science center advisory board. “The laboratories will provide modern educational instrumentation and infrastructure for STEM research to produce graduates who are highly competitive and in academia and industry.”

According to the school’s website, every student on campus will take at least three courses from programs housed in the Science Center, regardless of major. The project serves as the capstone of a 25-year Campus Journey that has seen a series of campus construction and renovation projects around campus.

The Science Center will play home to the college’s programs in actuarial science, biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, engineering science, environmental studies, mathematics, physics, and psychology, according to the Roanoke College website.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • DLR Group Hires Three for Higher Education Practice

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has brought three new hires on board to help shape its higher education practice in California and the northeast, according to a press release.