Construction has begun on the second of two new academic buildings that will replace the aging and outdated Monteith and Arjona buildings. Ground was broken the week of Aug. 23 for what will initially be called East Building. It is scheduled to be completed by August 2012.
East, which is being built on vacant space next to Babbidge Library where the Co-Op once stood, will be roughly 130,000 square feet and will house both classrooms and faculty offices. The total budget for East will be approximately $53 million. At its peak, the project will be responsible for as many as 300 construction jobs in Connecticut.
Ground was broken for the roughly 67,000 square foot West Building in December. It is scheduled for completion in May 2011.
Both buildings are being constructed under the 21st Century UConn/UConn 2000 program.
The top three floors of East will accommodate faculty offices, with a large lecture hall and 10 classrooms on the ground level. Six classrooms will be located on the second floor and two classrooms will be located on each of the third and fourth floors.
The CLAS departments of Political Science, Linguistics, Modern and Classical Languages, Economics, and Journalism will be housed in East. These departments are now scattered throughout Arjona and Monteith. The new classrooms and 200-seat auditorium will all be equipped with high-tech audiovisual capability.
Both buildings will also have many environmentally conscious and sustainable energy features, including efficient fixtures that will reduce water consumption, and energy-efficient lighting, as well as high-performance insulation and abundant natural light. West Building also will have a “green roof.” The two buildings will have LEED Silver accreditation.
