Forbes Hall to open for fall semester

Corrie Mitchell/The Captain's Log

By Jennifer Wittenberg

In the span of one year, the center of Christopher Newport University’s campus has once again been transformed by construction, this time of Mary Brock Forbes Hall. Also known as the Science Building, this academic building is named after Dr. Sarah Forbes’ mother, a generous supporter and donor of the school.

Forbes Hall is set to open at the start of the semester, with many students from various majors registered to have classes taught in the newly constructed building beginning in August.

“I have four classes in the new building this coming semester,” Sophomore Mariah Parker, chemistry major, said. “I am really ready to not be dripped on every time it rains, because the roof won’t leak.”

Forbes Hall defines the northern perimeter of the Great Lawn, stretching over 100 yards from one end to the other. Parallel to the David Student Union, it matches the look and structure of many of the surrounding buildings including the Paul and Rosemary Trible Library, the David Student Union, and McMurran Hall which opened last fall in time for classes.

Forbes Hall, built in the Neo-Georgian aesthetic, is defined by four great white columns, which has become a consistent characteristic of all newly-constructed buildings on the CNU campus. A breezeway allows for easy access to other buildings, which helps facilitate the creation of a walking campus.

The new building on campus will serve as a home to the many sciences on campus including biology, chemistry, and environmental science, and psychology majors. According to the February 2011 edition of “From the desk of President Trible,” the 21st century facility will offer 15 classrooms and 70 teaching labs and research spaces, and will include “an outdoor classroom, public spaces and corridors (that) feature ‘science-on-display’ in the form of views into laboratories, display cases, informal meeting spaces and poster session spaces.” In addition, the building houses 50 faculty offices.

“All of the laboratory spaces are designed to accommodate future change and are equipped with modern scientific equipment to prepare the students of CNU for professions and graduate school,” Lori Jacobs, university spokesperson, said.

The expansive capabilities of this building did not come at a small cost, especially considering the speed at which a building of this magnitude was built. Final estimates put the project’s budget at $84 million.

Sophomore Michelle Bailey, chemistry major, noted that the opening of Forbes Hall helps more than just CNU students. She believes it also puts the school on the map in the larger academic and scientific community.

“The new building will provide more opportunities and facilities for undergraduate research and collaboration between institutions,” Bailey said. “This is a good thing because CNU can introduce itself to the scientific community and become an integral part of the research field.”

The technology and resources present in the labs of the completed Forbes Hall have already attracted new faculty to CNU. Dr. Katie Wiens, who received her degree from the University of Minnesota, will be contributing to the field of neuroscience at CNU beginning in the fall.

After attending one of the top doctoral programs in her field, she completed a five-year post-doctoral at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the first and largest hospital in Southern California to exclusively treat children. Wiens intends to use that experience to create new laboratories that will expand opportunities for undergraduate students.

More construction will begin later in the summer to connect Forbes Hall with the Science Wing.

Posted by The Captain's Log on Jun 13 2011. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.