The College of New Jersey plans to build STEM and renovate science complex with state grant.
By Natalie Kouba
The College of New Jersey has announced it will is use a state grant of more than $57 million for construction projects supporting its STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiatives on campus.
The funding is generated by the Building Our Future Bond Act, a referendum that was approved by voters in November 2012.
Under the referendum, New Jersey colleges and universities were granted a total of $750 million to be used toward the advancement of their technological departments. TCNJ is currently awaiting approval by the state legislature of the list of projects to be funded by the act.
“There’s a STEM focus, and that was the state set priority for the solicitation of the grants,” said Stacy Schuster, associate vice president of college relations at TCNJ. “Clearly a priority for the College of New Jersey in an area where we have great need for technology and equipment and support.”
After the Building Our Future Bond Act passed, colleges and universities submitted applications in February, requesting solicitation for their respective projects. The review committee, including the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, had 60 days to approve or deny the applications.
“That process is still ongoing,” Schuster said. “Assuming all of those things fall into place, we will be looking at the demolition of Holman Hall.”
The main project is the construction of a new STEM building, which is expected to be 76,000 square feet and go where Holman Hall now stands.
The demolition of Holman Hall is expected to take place this fall and is anticipated to follow with the construction of the STEM building. Classes and offices will be temporarily relocated while the demolition and reconstruction projects are in process.
The STEM building will provide additional lab space for biomedical, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering programs, as well as nursing, computer science, math, and the physical, natural and health sciences.
The largest portion of the grant money is expected to go toward the construction of the STEM building, totaling $41 million.
According to the news release sent out by the college, the remaining funds are expected to be divided between three other projects. Upgrades in research and learning equipment for the schools of science, engineering, and nursing, health & exercise science would be funded by $6.9 million, while $3.5 million will be used to expand technology infrastructure. The remaining $6 million will help fund the renovations to the science complex and Armstrong Hall.
“Our programs in science and engineering are extraordinary programs. We are looking to provide additional space, additional lab space, more up-to-date lab space, and help with some of our equipment and labs that aren’t really at the quality level that they should be,” Schuster said.
After the construction of the STEM building is complete, projects for the science complex as well as Armstrong are expected to follow.
Plans call for renovation in the science complex of the chemistry and biology departments, along with the relocation of the mathematics and statistics department to Armstrong, where the engineering department currently operates.
While the grant money will assist in providing additional academic space, the college is not looking to expand.
“We met our enrollment goals; we aren’t looking to grow that. It is more of a quality and ability to help progress through more quickly by course offering, lab availability,” Schuster said.
The college, Schuster said, has one of the highest graduation rates for a public college in the nation.
Advancements in technology and innovative projects provided by these grants, helps students go through their education more effectively.
In addition to the building projects expected from the Building Our Future grants, the college is also preparing for the construction of the Campus Town through a public-private partnership allowed under the New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009.
Campus Town, which will be constructed on the perimeter of the campus near the main entrance on Pennignton Road, is expected to have restaurants, shops and other facilities for both the college and Ewing community to utilize.
TCNJ has partnered with The PRC Group of West Long Branch, to develop the mixed-use development. The project calls for Campus Town the development of about 12 acres of with 278,000 square feet of housing and amenities, including 195,000 square feet of living quarters with the capacity to house 446 students.
The project is slated for completion in the fall of 2015, according to TCNJ’s informational website on the development, campustown.pages.tcnj.edu.
Campus town is estimated to cost some $50 million, most of which will be financed by the PRCS Group. The company will lead the development of the project, and when completed, handle management of the property.