Conway Corp. Pledges $3M to Science Center Addition at UCA

Conway Corp., operator of Conway’s city-owned utility system, has pledged $3 million to the University of Central Arkansas for its construction and renovation project of the Lewis Science Center.

The gift will be paid out approximately $600,000 per year over five years, beginning in 2016.

“These funds will enhance Lewis Science Center and will help provide state-of-the-art laboratories and scientific facilities for our students,” UCA President Tom Courtway said.

Courtway told Arkansas Business the funds from Conway Corp. will be used specifically on the renovation of the existing Lewis Science Center’s 110,000-SF. Courtway said the renovation of the science center is currently estimated at between $10 million and $12 million, however, the final number is still being analyzed by architects on the project.

“The improvements and construction planned for the Lewis Science Center are of strategic importance for the university and Conway,” Bill Adkisson, chairman of the Conway Corp. Board of Directors, said. “We further hope this gift can be ‘leveraged’ if matching opportunities are identified and, if so, we pledge to assist university staff in ‘tailoring’ our support to maximize those opportunities.”

Also included in the project is the 50,000-SF add-on to the facility, which will also include the replacement of the existing structure’s roof. The addition, estimated at $17.5 million, will add teaching, learning and research space to accommodate current and future teaching methods. Included in the design are features to allow for improvements to equipment efficiency and energy use with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification.

In May, the board approved the issuance of bonds to finance the add-on. Stipulations for the bonds were not to exceed $13.5 million and an interest rate of 5.75 percent. Months before, trustees approved a $3.50 per credit hour increase to the student facility fee to fund bonds for the project. UCA will also use about $4 million in reserve funds.

Construction is set to begin in January, with a completion date in October 2016. Classes are planned to begin in the add-on in January 2017.