The Shorthorn - ERC plaza complete, ready for fall semester

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ERC plaza complete, ready for fall semester

Written by Johnathan Silver, The Shorthorn staff

Tuesday, 04 August 2009 07:01 PM

Technical lab assistant Jorge Forteza strolls through the recently completed plaza south of the Engineering Lab Building. Forteza says he welcomes the repaved walkway that used to be part of West First Street. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

After all the dust, drilling and detours, some of the Engineering Lab Building’s occupants appreciate their extra space.

The third floor addition completed July 27 and lab equipment and furniture installation began. The lab building will be fully operational by Aug. 24, the first class day. Renovation costs totaled $22 million. The Engineering Research Complex’s plaza, on the south end of the lab building, completed Tuesday. The entire bioengineering department will now have room to fit in one building with the addition of 22,000 square feet.

The new plaza, which replaced a busy street and sidewalks, has been well received, said bioengineering department chair Khosrow Behbehani.

Bioengineering administrative assistant Cindy Bradfield said she’s excited to see more open bathrooms and entrances no longer closed. Bradfield remembered having to travel around fences and through buildings to get to her office and go to lunch. Now, there is only pavement.

Engineering Research Complex dates

Engineering Lab Building
Completion date: July 27 (operational date: Aug. 24)
Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Sept. 2

Engineering Research Building
Completion date: January 2011

Engineering Research Complex
Completion date: January 2011

“It was always a guessing game,” she said. “You had to give yourself some extra minutes to get to where you were going. Now, I’m very happy.”

Behbehani spoke with students and faculty occupying the third floor, which will be used for extra lab space, new research facilities and meetings for faculty and staff.

“There’s quite a bit of enthusiasm,” Behbehani said. “Overall it has been a positive and encouraging development for us.”

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Gauri Bhave, a biomedical engineering graduate student, takes classes during the day and does research at night, when much drilling occurred.

“I came here when the construction started,” she said. “I like the way it looks now, though.”

During construction, the bioengineering department relocated to a temporary first floor office.

“Any relaxing and aesthetically pleasing environment around the building can definitely encourage and uplift people in their work areas,” Behbehani said. “It couldn’t be anything but positive.”

The lab building will have an official ribbon cutting ceremony outside of the facility Sept. 2.

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