Valparaiso University plans to move, update and expand its science campus, starting with a new building between Kretzmann Hall and Meier Hall.
That building will have one classroom that will seat 48 students but mostly will serve as laboratories, according to plansuniversity officials presented at Tuesday's Valparaiso Site Review Committee.
The laboratories primarily will host chemistry classes, although some would be designated for biology.There will be about 25 offices and student space.
The university hopes to start moving dirt in September, said Dennis P. Lammert, Senior Vice President and Project Manager for Hasting + Chivetta architects and engineers of St. Louis.
The 55,876-square-foot building — at the southeast corner of the university campus — should be completed in summer 2017 for use in the 2017-18 school year, officials said.
It will be the start of a multibuilding, science-oriented campus at Valparaiso University, Lammert said, that eventually will replace the outdated Neils Science Center.
The university may replace Meier Hall as it builds the new science area, but the new science campus would be able to tie into the engineering building next door to Meier, Lammert said.