While many students were away this summer, resting and getting ready for a new semester, the College of Engineering was busy breaking ground for the construction of a new $55 million building. Most students have no doubt noticed the chain-link chateau now inhabiting the middle of campus and are probably wondering what exactly the college is up to.
In 2022, the College of Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced their plan for the Engineering Student Centered Collaborative Building, which serves to address the ever-increasing demands facing engineers. Scientific innovations, environmental challenges and industry needs means engineering education is left constantly trying to catch up and keep students prepared.
Dr. Ahmed Khattab, the dean of the College of Engineering said, “So this state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone for the College of Engineering.
And this is not just the space, this is beyond the physical space. It’s about opportunities for our students, about how we are covering or bridging the skills gap between what engineering education provides and what industry needs.”
To give students the vital skills they need, the ESCCB will include an amenity of facilities and resources. Engineering majors of all classifications will have access to state of the art 5,000 square foot makerspace, smart classrooms, huddle rooms and countless other spaces for collaboration and socialization.
Changes are also being made to Madison Hall in order to convert the building into a space mostly dedicated for research and teaching labs and to make the building more accessible for students and staff with disabilities.
However, while students are excited about the new additions to campus, many also feel that other majors and departments are being left behind.
Leah Russ, a junior in political science said, “I believe that it’s a nice addition to campus. However, I hope that if there’s any funds left over from that, that we could fix buildings we already have, simply because there are issues and things that need to be fixed.”
Across campus, there have been reports of faulty AC systems, poor accessibility and various issues, especially in the more historic buildings.
For example Izamary Lara, a junior in chemistry said “I’m just kind of jealous as a different kind of STEM major, like seeing the conditions that we have to do stuff in, I’ve noticed engineering students get better stuff than we do because they have extra funds and extra donors[…]”
She continued, “Honestly, in the chemistry building, like the bottom of the sinks are kind of biohazards, like you can’t touch the bottom because there’s broken glass and chemicals have eroded the sink and it’s just disgusting.”
With such an old campus, problems are bound to occur, making maintenance an absolute must. Fortunately, this summer, during the State of the University event, president Savoie delivered a speech in which he announced $601 million worth of projects are either currently in the design phase or under construction.
Some of these projects include renovations to campus sidewalks as well as air conditioning, elevator, and security improvements for multiple buildings. Additionally, OK Allen Hall, Agnes Edwards, the Brook Street annex and the ROTC building are also set to receive new roofs.
President Savoie also declared that two of our oldest buildings: Foster Hall and Declouet Hall are going to be fully revamped and renovated starting this spring.
These two historic buildings hold many vital resources for students including financial aid, work studies, federal programs that give support to first generation students and other underrepresented groups.
“We are now managing more construction projects than at any time since before World War II,” said the president in his speech. But that’s not all, the president also announced that $535 million worth of projects are currently in the process of seeking approval and funding. Meaning in total, approximately $1.1 billion worth of projects are either seeking funds, in the design process, or are currently under construction.