Lamar University will host a grand opening for its new Science and Technology Building on Wednesday.

The construction for the new building began in 2017 and is the first new academic building on the campus in 40 years.

In a press release, Lamar University President Kenneth Evans said the new building will primarily be used for research.

“Lamar University is a diverse research institution,” said Evans. “It’s the university’s mission to provide guidance and support to the university community for research and that’s the purpose of this building.”

The building has seven instructional labs, 14 research labs and a large project instruction room upstairs that overlooks a greenhouse.

Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor, a Lamar University associate professor of biology and a member of the building’s planning committee, said the building is an investment in the next generation of researchers.

“If universities like Lamar University are to continue to conduct the vital research that transforms our world and enhances our lives, then faculty and students must have the facilities and the space to support learning and research,” said Kucknoor. “The Science and Technology Building is a facility that has been designed to foster collaboration. Shared research and lab space will provide us opportunities to work together on cutting-edge projects. Collaboration is at the heart of discovery.”

The building will house a “maker space,” designed similarly to Rice University’s “design kitchen.” Evans said the maker space is his favorite.

“The maker space is where students can fabricate ideas they develop into product prototypes,” said Evans. “This space is intended to give students a real-world, hands-on, practical experience while creating.”

The Science and Technology Building has several student-focused spaces – a lounge, several breakout rooms and a self-serve, micro-market. It also houses multiple additions of Lamar University’s growing collection of public art.

A large mural that stretches from the bottom floor to the second is one of the last pieces of art Kenneth Evans’ late wife Nancy commissioned before she died in June, Director of Public Affairs Shelly Vitanza said.

The building houses eight works of art, all of which are biology related. In the lounge areas, inspirational science quotes such as “Science is magic that works,” and “Experiment. Fail. Learn. Repeat.” are on the walls in large print.

In a release on Lamar’s website, the university announced the launch of collaborative SciTech projects in the new building.

“The projects will investigate some of the most pressing issues facing the region, state, and nation with a scope that encompasses the environment, healthcare, technology and education,” the release read.

The projects are as follows:

• Natural remediation solutions, novel detection methods and processes, and methods for the reuse of dredged soil for environmental and agricultural purposes.
• Provision of rural healthcare to an aging population is a challenge on a global scale.
• The explosive development of the ability of devices to communicate with each other opens great possibilities for automation, remote monitoring, smart vehicles, health connectivity and forensic and cyber security solutions.
• Development of modern education methods and tools, taking into account rapidly advancing technology as well as the technical capabilities and new strengths of the next generation of learners.

More information on these projects can be found at lamar.edu under News and Events.

The grand opening is set to begin at 1 p.m. and the building is located on the south end of the campus between the Speech and Hearing Building and Monroe Hall.