New facility will address outdated labs and overcrowded classes
By Billy Loftin
Monday, November 16, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.
Read more: Local, Education, Community, Science, Amarillo, Amarillo College, AC, New Science Lab Building, Science Labs, Biology, Chemistry, Washington St Campus
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Better technology, more space, and nicer labs, all sounds good for Amarillo College who is almost ready to open a brand new science lab building on it's Washington St. campus.
The new science lab facility is filled with biology, and chemistry labs, plus the addition of smart classrooms.
The price tag of the new lab building is around ten million dollars, and was paid for back in 2007 with the passage of a bond election.
Outdated and older labs along with overcrowded classes led Amarillo College to look at the expansion.
"The biology building is just cramped, instructors are having classes almost around the clock, so we were just out of room in the biology building," said Bruce Cotgreave the Director of Physical Plant at Amarillo College.
A growing enrollment and a booming nursing program also helped place extra demand on biology and science labs, but alongside the needs for the faculty and students, is the need to stay competitive.
"I think the students deserve that, it's no use to train them on outdated equipment, the other thing, we have to maintain the technology and kind of be on the cutting edge, to be competitive with the other colleges and universities," said Cotgreave.
The new science building is set to be complete this December and will be ready for the spring semester.
