Campus community members said they're awaiting the opening of the Interdisciplinary Science Building, originally anticipated to open this year.
Robin McElhatton, assistant director of media relations, said the building’s completion was delayed to summer 2023 because of complications related to the coronavirus pandemic.
“COVID-19 issues continue to be a concern we work through every day,” she said in an email. “Related to that is supply chain (materials and shipping) delays that we, and most other businesses, are experiencing.”
McElhatton said the $186 million Interdisciplinary Science Building will provide students with state-of-the-art labs and uniquely constructed research spaces that promote collaborative thinking.
Chemical engineering senior Chytchua Muyco said she wishes she could experience the new facilities before her graduation date, but understands the delay in construction.
“In the [current] science building there’s not much room in the labs, and they are more outdated than I thought they’d be inside,” Muyco said. “As a student you want to be exposed to new equipment so when you're in the field you know how to use them.”
Biochemistry alumna and instructional support technician for the current science building’s satellite storage Jade Nguyen said the building’s infrastructure is “subpar.”
“The labs in here have been used to teach chemistry for years, so everything is quite old now,” she said.
Charlie Faas, Vice President of Administration and Finance, said in a Feb. 10 email that installation of the new building’s exterior curtain wall is 60%complete with interior wall framing, mechanical and electrical work. He said plumbing is “progressing” on all floors.
Chemistry lecturer Stephanie Stepp said the new science building will also provide classrooms with fume hoods, which will keep air secluded in the hoods to prevent compounds from rising in the breathable classroom atmosphere.
Fume hoods are wall units with sliding glass in the front that allow students necessary visibility while conducting science experiments without being exposed to harmful gasses.
Stepp said she is excited to lecture in a facility with more modern equipment.
“Right now we’re really limited on what we can do, since we’re working on organic chemistry which involves a lot of compounds, we have to be cautious of how much ends up in the air we breathe,” she said.
She said working in an updated research facility will allow for more in-depth experiments in the classroom.
The project, which broke ground on April 25, 2019, is part of a larger science complex which will feature a secondary collaboration building, MacQuarrie Hall, and a renovated Duncan Hall, according to the Science and Innovation Complex website.
McElhatton said the goal of this project is to reconstruct the campus structure for the advancement of future Spartans.
“The Science and Innovation Complex will eventually create a reimagining of Duncan Hall and other science spaces on campus,” she said in an email. “These future facility enhancements are being developed now as part of the Campus Master Plan.”
The complex will also create more green space on the west side of campus to promote better accessibility and an inviting setting for students, according to San Jose State’s Ambitious New Vision website.
McElhatton said students and faculty have the ability to share input on the infrastructure inside current campus facilities this spring to assist with the process of creating the Campus Master Plan.
“We encourage students to be active in this process of thinking of the campus 20 years from now,” she said. “It’s important to plan for the future needs of the SJSU community.”
