By Nick Gilbert
Elms College has begun the process of construction of a new building for Natural and Health Sciences.
Elms College broke ground on the Center for Natural and Health Sciences during a ceremony on campus Saturday, June 2, 2012
The college held an official ground breaking ceremony on June 2 towards this end. The ceremony was attended by various important officials such as Mayor of City of Chicopee, Michael Bissonnette, Elms College Board of Trustees and Vicar General of the Diocese of Springfield.
The new building will consist of five stories and will cover an area of 22,000 sq. ft. and will feature traditional architecture. The building will contain eight laboratories for research and clinical purposes and classrooms for its current programs such as nursing, chemistry and biology. Students from a few selected disciplines will have access to a new simulation skills laboratory. The new centre will mainly be used by the departments of chemistry, computer information technology, biology, social work, communication sciences, nursing, mathematics and healthcare management. The new centre will also feature a lecture hall with a seating capacity of 60 students. The possibility of the integration of a research lab with the central space is also being considered. Such a set up will enable the students to come together for a common lecture as well as break up into smaller groups for group studies and discussions.
The college has received a funding of $12.35 million from Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation under New Markets Tax Credit Allocation. These credits in turn will be purchased by investors from outside resulting in total equity investments of $3.2 million. Construction of the new centre, which is likely to be completed over the next 18 months, is expected to contribute to the local economy in a significant manner.
Source: http://www.elms.edu