$8 Million S.D. Science Building

 

SPEARFISH, S.D. — Students will arrive back to school for the spring semester with a new $8 million Life Sciences Laboratory building open for research and instruction on the Black Hills State University campus.

 

The 26,000-square-foot, LEED-certified building is part of a $74.5 million state appropriations bill to upgrade laboratories at all state universities. It will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 8.

 

 

Officials at Black Hills State say the building aims to improve and increase the lab space for the growing number of students overall and those enrolling in science programs, along with an increasing number of faculty research projects. Their proximity to the three classroom laboratories, spacious design, and clustered work stations were designed to encourage greater inquiry-based instruction.

 

"Most importantly, the new Science Building will enhance experiential learning opportunities for our students as they work with faculty mentors on research," said Corinne Hansen, director of Marketing and Communications at the university. "The new science building will be transformative for teaching and research in biology and chemistry at Black Hills State University." 

 

The new building will house chemistry programs and some biology programs – one of the top three most popular majors at BHSU, school officials report.