When students return for the fall semester, they will notice a lot of new attractions on campus. Over the summer, many construction teams will be hard at work to build several new projects.
Kim Chaudoin, Director of Communication and Marketing, shed some light on each of the sites of construction and renovation.
The first thing one might notice when walking through Bison Square will be the new Osman Fountain. Built to honor the Memory of Ty Osman II, a Harding student who died in a car accident last year, the fountain will also feature a baptistry.
“We thought it was just a really fitting thing to have because our student’s faith is such an important part of what we do here at Lipscomb,” Chaudoin said. “Dr. Lowry has a vision of this being a place where if students decide they want to commit their life to Christ that they might come here and be baptized, right here in the middle of campus.”
Students and faculty in the field of sciences can look forward to a new pharmacy and health sciences research facility, which will be located behind the McFarland building. The 15,000 square foot addition will include classrooms, labs and offices.
“It’s our intent that just about any student that studies sciences will go through here at least once during their studies,” Chaudoin said. “We’re on target to finish by fall semester, so students should be able to use it soon.”
At the Swang building, students are going to return to a new auditorium in Swang 108. The room has been stripped clean and will be receiving new seating, lighting, carpet, audio-visual systems and a new heating/cooling system.
“We’ve taken out all the seats and we’re gonna re-do everything and bring it in to a more contemporary look that might mirror something that you would find at our Spark facility in Cool Springs,” Chaudoin said. “It should still seat just over 200 people when we’re finished, and I think students will be really be pleased with the way it looks”
It’s not just the academic buildings that are being renovated. While construction hasn’t yet begun, renovations to the Student Activities Center (SAC) are also being planned for the summer.
“Two years ago it underwent a major renovation, and this summer we are in the second phase of what we want to do here with the facility,” Chaudoin said.
“What we’re going to do is place the existing bathrooms, shower and locker area at the front of the SAC and relocate it to the back of McQuiddy. That will allow us to expand the performance studio and weight room to give a little more room for stretching.”
It’s expected that all of the projects will be ready for students when they return for the new semester.
Photo credit: Nick Glende
Swang 108 photo courtesy of lipscomb.edu
