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Southern Arkansas University Starts Construction of Science, Technology Center

2 min read

Southern Arkansas University of Magnolia officials recently announced that its new University Science and Technology Center is expected to be completed within the next year.

"This is going to be a tremendous facility with state-of-the-art technology that will serve students who are beginning our next centennial of success at Southern Arkansas University," SAU President David Rankin said in a news release.

According to Jasper Lewis, associate vice president for facilities, the 64,000-SF project is estimated to cost $16.7 million, which includes the main building, district cooling system upgrades, parking, landscaping, furniture, audiovisual equipment and design fees. The general contractor for the project is CDI Contractors of Little Rock and the architects are WER and Associates of Little Rock.

The new facility will house the departments of biology, chemistry and physics within the College of Science and Technology. Planning for the center began in 2003 when the Arkansas General Assembly appropriated $240,000 to SAU to prepare a proposal for a science and technology building. During the next two bienniums, the university received additional funding and in 2006, former Gov. Mike Huckabee awarded $601,747 to the project. Gov. Mike Beebe followed with a $1 million award in 2007.

As a result of a special election and the passage of the Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act, SAU will receive $1.4 million for the project. The university also has issued bonds in the amount of $14 million.

"The Southern Arkansas University Science Center will be the type of facility that will ensure that students who use the facility will be exceptionally well prepared for work or further education when they receive their degrees," Rankin said. "Classes are currently held in five different buildings and this center will help centralize many of the programs."

The SAU Foundation is continuing to seek gifts for the completion of this project.

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