Renovations and Improvements

The disruptions to 590 Commonwealth Avenue (SCI) experienced in 2007 and 2008 associated with HVAC renovations have been followed by a blessed period of clean air and few disruptions (except for current localized impact of Live Animal Care Facility construction on the fourth floor of SCI). However, two large areas were left for subsequent work. One is the lecture hall/demonstration preparation/classroom complex SCI 107/109/111/113/115, and the other is the renovation of chemistry teaching labs on the 3rd floor for badly needed organic chemistry teaching labs.

The lecture hall project was on track for construction this summer (2010) without any significant input from CAS and the faculty from Biology, Chemistry and Physics whose courses are primary users of the spaces. A coordinated user rebellion in 2009, in response to architect’s drawings, brought the onrushing train temporarily to a halt. A series of meetings where representatives from the relevant departments and CAS talked to representatives of the Provost’s and Registrar’s office, was held. The discussions seem to have lead to a workable consensus. The user’s needs were defined as (1) a large auditorium seating 230 to 260 in place of SCI 107, (2) some reconfiguration of demo prep spaces, (3) a medium auditorium seating 130-150 in the location of SCI 111 and 113, and (4) minimal alteration of SCI 115 resulting in a flat floor, clustered, movable, narrow rectangular tables, and the possibility of dividing it into two classrooms with a movable soundproof wall. We now expect that plans reflecting this consensus will be finalized and that construction may occur next summer (2011).

The Organic Chemistry Teaching Lab project has a strong rationale and reasonable prospects for securing the required funding. Unfortunately, the plan incorporates significant amounts of space used intensively by the Physics Department: four windowed offices (SCI 342C, D, E and F; 500 sf) occupied by condensed matter theory (CMT) postdocs and visitors, one office (SCI 344; 218 sf) occupied by four CMT graduate students, and lab and office space (SCI 350, A, D, E; 563 sf) used by Professor Rothschild’s group, which includes all the offices for his students and postdoctoral fellow. An ideal solution for CMT would be for the SCI 311 lab (1368 sf) adjacent to their existing suite to be efficiently configured as postdoc and graduate student space, allowing CMT graduate students from SCI 270 and 270A (each 149 sf) also to be brought into a contiguous CMT area. In turn, the offices 270 and 270A are actually more conveniently located near all the Rothschild lab spaces than SCI 350.

Two faculty will be joining the CMT group, increasing the pressure on existing space. One is our new Assistant Professor Pankaj Mehta, whose work combines CMT and Biological Physics. He is slated to occupy SCI 323, displacing CMT visitors. The other is Professor David Campbell, returning to teaching and research (in CMT Physics) after serving as University Provost. Additional nearby space could be our present “Emeritus corridor” (SCI 430B, C, D and E; 76, 132, 73 and 182 sf, respectively). With some paint and new light bulbs in the hallway, this could be a lively windowed group space anchored at the far end of the corridor by an active senior theorist like Campbell.

Our other new faculty member is Kevin Black, a high energy experimentalist. He will be joining the Boston University ATLAS detector group as an Assistant Professor. His office will be PRB 371, previously the office of Professor Ulrich Heinz, and he will work within laboratory space already allocated to the ATLAS group.

There are no specific plans at the present time for further renovations and improvements. We actively support interdepartmental discussions of optimal usage of the 1st floor lounge area and the open area in the atrium basement for enhanced student learning facilities. Our RULE grant pilots course changes that may subsequently require additional non-tiered classrooms. With more efficient use of existing space, relocation of PY581 Advanced Lab, or other changes, we may be able to contribute to accomplishing this.

Continue reading: Challenges and Needs