Science Building East Renovation

Following completion of their new Science Building, also designed by Hastings+Chivetta, university planners turned their attention to the renovation of the Science East Building.

The east building was originally constructed in 1966 to support a variety of academic and science programs. After the gut renovation of the interiors and infrastructure, Science East is now home to the Departments of Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, and the Center for STEM Learning. This project extends SIUE’s ongoing commitment to growth and development of a master planned Science Complex.

The building houses physics teaching labs including two biophysics, one of which is dedicated to crystallography. The optics lab provides screening at all five student tables. Research includes three vibration-resistant photonics labs with complete room darkening. Portholes from the laser lab allow light to be shared with researchers in connected labs.

Faculty/principal investigators have dedicated research assignments that allow for more equipment within the lab and an increase in the number of students participating in research. The significant expansion of research space is viewed as a valuable asset in the recruitment and retention of faculty and students.