The long awaited renovation and expansion of the Physics Building was completed last summer. The renovation of the Physics building has a long history. The Physics Department moved temporarily into its present quarters, a building designed for the Physical Plant, in 1951. It lacked the most basic facilities common to other research and teaching programs, but it was never renovated. Lack of basic necessities made it extremely difficult to conduct research and presented an environment nonconducive to student learning. Absence of central air conditioning created intolerably high levels of humidity and dust. Power lines were poorly grounded and had unacceptable levels of radio frequency noise. Laboratories lacked adequate power, water, vibration-free tables, benches, shelves, and other essentials. One of its research laboratories, the superconductivity laboratory, was housed in an apartment complex and lacked the appropriate number of fume hoods. The Physics Building had concrete floors, warehouse lighting, ceiling open to fiberglass roof insulation, and painted blue factory-like windows.
The Department had outgrown the space years ago, and had only half the space it needed. In spite of these severe limitations, the department gained world-wide recognition for research in laser physics and quantum optics, and the university has received more than 20 patents for the world-record breakthroughs physicists have made in superconductivity. In recognition of the Department's achievements and potential, the Administration in 1989 made it a top priority to upgrade its facilities. Renovation and expansion of the physics facilities were made possible in part by a $500,000 award from the National Science Foundation. It took two years to complete this project at a cost of approximately $3.5 million. The construction on Phase I of the project started in June 1992, and was completed in the Summer of 1994.
The renovated building is being used for research laboratories, faculty and graduate student offices, a research library, and the departmental office. An 11,00O ft2 extension of the building houses two classrooms and six instructional laboratories. All facilities have been brought to present-day standards and are a tremendous improvement over the previous facilities.
Although the renovation has improved the learning and research atmosphere substantially, physics is still very short of space. Phase II of the project, still unfunded, will add 17,000 ft2 to the facility. It will house a lecture room, additional instructional laboratories, a modern planetarium and a hands-on discovery room where students from area elementary schools and colleges can enjoy and explore various science exhibits. *