A milestone on the University of Windsor campus.
The final beam in the frame for the new science and innovation building has been hoisted into place by a giant crane.
Faculty and staff signed the final beam at the top of the new UWindsor science building. #cklw pic.twitter.com/nYDWBRPoMC
— Peter Langille (@PLangille800) November 17, 2017
Members of administration and the faculty of science signed the steel I-beam before it was bolted to the 3rd floor.
It's a key stage in construction of the $30-million building that's expected to be complete in the spring.
Dean of Science Chris Houser says students and faculty are excited about the possibilities.
University of Windsor Dean of Science Chris Houser (by AM800's Peter Langille)
"We are providing state of the art facilities in which to continue that one for many years to come," says Houser "we've hired a lot of new faculty who will be moving in to here. It's a collaborative space so we're going to be bringing faculty together in unique ways that means we're going to have research that's never been done before."
Houser says the open concept of the building should be inspiring as undergrad students work shoulder to shoulder with faculty, grad students and post docs.
University President Alan Wildeman says this will be another key piece in the transformation of the campus.
"When this project is done it's going to really change this part of the campus," says Wildeman "Having Sunset transformed into Turtle Island Walk, the green spaces, the parking garage, the new buildings. It does have a bit of a different look, I'll admit it does"
Wildeman says the project is on track and on budget.
When completed the facility will have a 3-storey atrium and open concept labs with state-of-the-art equipment.
No decision has been made about the future of the aging Essex Hall the new building replaces.