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OSU opens doors to new state-of-the-art classroom building |
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Monday, 12 January 2009 |
 On the first day of the spring semester, OSU students attend class in one of the North Classroom Building’s two 125-seat auditoriums.  Entryway to North Classroom Building Cafe  Common student area  North Classroom Building
(STILLWATER, OK, Jan. 12, 2009) -- As Oklahoma State University began the spring semester Monday, many students attended class in the newly constructed North Classroom Building. The 50,000-square foot building will be used by OSU and Northern Oklahoma College.
“The North Classroom Building is another example of OSU’s commitment to better serving our students,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “The building offers the latest in teaching tools and a beautiful learning environment. In addition, the location of the building is much closer to the majority of our residence halls, which are located on the north side of campus, and across the street from Northern Oklahoma College.”
The new building, which is wireless and features the latest multimedia equipment in all classrooms, is located at the southeast corner of N. Monroe and Hall of Fame Avenue. It has 14 classrooms that seat 30 to 48 students each, two 125-seat auditoriums, a Student Success Center and café located on the first floor, and a faculty work area located on the third floor. More than 70 OSU classes, mostly undergraduate level and general education courses, are scheduled to be held this semester in the building.
“This facility provides every amenity a student needs to be successful,” said OSU Provost and Senior Vice President Marlene Strathe. “I’m certain the Student Success Center will be a favorite study area for our students, and in early February we will introduce a laptop checkout procedure for students using the study area.”
OSU took several steps to address sustainability in the three-story building. It is equipped with energy efficient lighting, windows, and heating and air conditioning.
The $15 million facility was partially funded through the Oklahoma Higher Education Capital Bond Program. In 2003, OSU and Northern Oklahoma College entered into a memorandum of understanding for NOC to provide remedial and general education classes as well as select lower division coursework on the OSU-Stillwater campus. Currently NOC rents space in the Cowboy Mall facility and in 2005 the two schools agreed to cooperatively finance the new classroom facility.
The new classroom space was completed three months ahead of the construction contract. The construction manager on the project was Manhattan Construction and the architects were DLR Group/LWPB Architecture, Oklahoma City. |
