Renovating the old Math and Science building

Constructing the new Math Science Center of Innovative Learning on CSC’s campus

The Math Science Center of Innovative Learning, formerly known as the Math and Science building, has been totally gutted since demolition crews removed the old interior to make room for a full renovation now underway.  

Before that, school crews of student workers, faculty and staff worked through last summer to remove furniture, scientific collections and equipment, historical and archaeological museum artifacts and other remnants of the educational facility.  

The stuff removed was either put in storage or sorted for trash, depending on if it had a use. Other things removed are being used in temporary classrooms found in Brooks Hall and newly constructed labs in Burkhiser Technology Complex.  

Clearing out the Math and Science building was necessary to make way for demolition of the building’s interior. That demolition is now finished, and crews have begun new interior framework to replace the old cement-block walls.  

In their place are metal framed walls with chases large enough to fit any utility lines or other needed mechanics, which crews and subcontractors from the project’s general contractor, Adolfson and Peterson Construction, are running through various places of the building.  

“We’re working from the top of the building to the bottom,” Eric Carlson, Assistant Project Manager from Adolfson and Peterson said. 

The building’s upper level is a jungle of metal frames, electrical lines, pipes and HVAC conduit. The middle level had many walls framed with crews working to add more.  

The bottom floor remained much emptier than the rest of the building as crews were still excavating areas near the old Gross Anatomy Lab to replace plumbing fixtures soon to be poured in by concrete.   

On the building’s north side, a new wing will extend to the edge of the slope south of Andrew’s Hall. Currently crews are working to pour its concrete foundation and walls to support the large extension, which will predominately house chemistry labs, classrooms and storage space.  

The organizational floor plan of the renovated building will not completely rearrange the existing floor plan, as some prominent features won’t move from their previous vicinity.  

For example, the Museum of Geology will remain in the basement’s northwestern quadrant where crusted paint from the old museum is still visible on the soon to be insulated walls. 

The Gross Anatomy Lab will be moved just across the hall from its old location, and many of the building’s office spaces will remain on the northwest corner of the middle and upper floors.  

Noticeable movements will include the CSC Planetarium to underneath the old rotunda in the center of the building.  

“It should extend up to just a couple of feet below those stairs,” Eric Carlson said pointing to the old spiral staircase. 

A large hole remains in the space where the planetarium’s high peaked ceiling used to be. 

“This is the biggest electrical room you will ever see,” Carlson said. “Normally they cram it into the smallest room.” 

The old central spiral stairway will be thrown out and replaced with different stairs and a platform at each floor level, including a study lobby on the upper floor. The pendulum will not hang through the spiral or anywhere else in the renovated building. 

High Plains Herbarium will be moved downstairs to the building’s south-central corner with a herbarium library and plant study rooms directly west.  

According to Carlson, the project is on schedule and hasn’t been majorly impacted by COVID-19.  

The project is scheduled to be substantially completed by February next year and open to occupancy by March of next year.