It’s taken over a decade and more than $3 million, but the construction of the new chemistry department additions is finally complete. The Choppin Wing, named after alumnus Gregory Choppin, A’49, has been anticipated since 1997 when construction began.
Thomas Spence, chemistry department chair, gave a rundown of what was done. Two completely reconstructed instructional labs are available for general chemistry classes as well as supportive labs for forensic chemistry. While these labs offer fewer seats, “the new geometry allows instructors to more easily get around the lab and interact with students without interruption,” Spence said.
The chemistry labs were in need of major improvements, bearing inadequate fume hoods that were over 30 years old. The hood space in the labs is an important factor for safety and proper ventilation. “They were simply outdated,” Spence said.
“Having the proper hood space will enable us to offer laboratory experiences which we have not been able to offer in the past due to safety concerns,” he said. “I think both spaces, the lab and the lecture hall, will promote more of a project-oriented or experiential learning atmosphere.”
The Keck Collaborative Learning Facility is a lecture room with flexible classroom seating that permits space needed for less traditional learning activities such as group exercises. It is part of the new Choppin Wing. “It’s a much nicer learning environment that the old Monroe 127 lecture hall,” Spence said.
Aside from general chemistry, classes such as organic chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and biochemistry as well as introductory and advanced common curriculum courses for non-majors will also be held in the new lecture room.
The Choppin Wing also includes a new main office for the chemistry department. The renovations bring many of the offices that were previously spread throughout several floors in Monroe Hall closer to the rest of the department. “This makes it more accessible to students and most faculty,” Spence said, “although we still have some faculty offices and research space up on the fourth floor.”
Chemistry senior Hussain Badani has not been able to use the new facilities as much as he’d like since it is mostly for general chemistry and lower level chemistry classes. However, Badani said, “We have a much better equipped lab. They’ve really expanded the area and maximized its use.”
Biology sophomore Nicole Okemura is taking a general chemistry class. “There are laptops for each lab table. It’s much different that my high school lab. It’s much more high tech. It seems like this is going to be a fun class,” she said.
Sarah Goodwin can be reached at [email protected].
