Faculty and staff are invited to be part of history when Drake dedicates Collier-Scripps Hall and the Science Connector Building, the first stand-alone academic buildings constructed on campus in decades. The ceremony and building tours will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. on the outdoor plaza between Olin and Collier-Scripps Halls.
Tag Archives: STEM@DRAKE
Video from the President: You’re invited
President Martin invites faculty and staff to attend a dedication ceremony for Collier-Scripps Hall and the Science Connector Building on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. on the outdoor plaza between Olin and Collier-Scripps Halls. Learn more.
Construction of Ray Promenade: Street and building access points
Construction began yesterday on the Robert D. and Billie Ray Promenade. All gates will be closed, limiting access to the construction area. The project, although weather dependent, is expected to be completed by the middle of December.
The Law School Parking Lot (north of Opperman Library) will remain open until approximately Oct. 15. When accessing campus, from east to west, use the north side of Forest Avenue or the south side of Carpenter Avenue.
Weitz Construction will be closing the south lane on Forest Avenue from the Science Connector Building to 27th Street. Concrete barriers will be installed on the south lane to enable pedestrians to use the west cross walk at 27th Street and Forest Avenue. Carpenter Avenue and Painted Street will be closed for construction. Click here for a map of the impacted construction area.
Building Access
The construction project will impact several buildings on campus. The buildings affected are listed below. The doors will be open to faculty, staff, and students.
- Collier-Scripps: use the north doors
- Olin: use the southwest door or the northeast door
- Human Resources and the International Center: accessible from Forest Avenue using the Law School parking entrance. Enter The Point using the north door for Human Resources and the East door for the International Center.
- Cartwright Law School: use the south doors
For questions, contact Jolene Schmidt at jolene.schmidt@drake.edu.
— Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management
STEM@DRAKE: An example of inclusivity and financial stewardship
As thousands of Bulldogs return to campus or join the Drake community for the first time, they will have two new buildings to become acquainted with––the Science Connector Building and Collier-Scripps Hall.
The two buildings are part of the STEM@DRAKE project, which began in 2016 with the renovation of several labs and classrooms in Harvey Ingham Hall and will conclude with the construction of the Ray Promenade, scheduled to be complete later this year.
Not only will these buildings enhance collaboration and meet high environmental standards, the Science Connector Building and Collier-Scripps Hall will further Drake’s goal of creating and sustaining an inclusive campus community. Here’s how:
- Both the Science Connector Building and Collier-Scripps Hall have gender inclusive restrooms and dedicated space for nursing mothers.
- The new buildings connect students and faculty of multiple disciplines, creating a welcoming environment for all––not just those of one particular discipline.
The new STEM@DRAKE buildings are also an example of Drake’s financial stewardship. Construction of the buildings began in early 2016 and were completed this month, on time and on budget, which not only helps the University’s financial performance, but demonstrates responsibility and commitment to the donors who generously gave to the project.
The entire STEM@DRAKE project, a $52 million investment, involved students, faculty, and staff working together in both the design and management of the project. Through input from many different parties, the new space is designed to remain current and in touch with the needs and wants of students and faculty today and in the future.
Next phase of construction: 27th Street and The Point demolition
The completion of the Science Connector Building and Collier-Scripps Hall is an exciting and monumental milestone. Now, construction crews are beginning work on the next phase of the project—completion of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Promenade encompassing the outdoor spaces just east of the STEM@DRAKE complex. This project will provide a welcoming and beautiful outdoor space while also enhancing accessibility and parking.
Over the next several months, there will be substantial work and disruption in this area. Fencing along 27th Street between Carpenter and Forest Avenues will be installed. No east-west pathways will be possible because the project includes removal of an old water main below the street. In addition, The Point, which is home to HR and International Programs, will be removed in early October. Information on their new office locations can be found here.
As part of this work, the Jewett Hall parking lot will be closed and removed. With the parking lot closure, we have made arrangements to allow for 30-minute vehicle unloading on Painted Street in front of Jewett Residence Hall during move-in weekend on Aug. 25-26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vehicles may enter from 25th Street onto Carpenter Avenue. Des Moines Police will be available to direct traffic. Cars may unload on the north side of Painted Street, circle around, and then depart on the south side.
Several steps are being taken to provide information to students, visitors, faculty, and staff about alternative routes in the area. Safety and accessibility remain at the forefront of planning. For updated information, please check the project updates on the STEM@DRAKE website and watch OnCampus. Facilities Planning and Management will also distribute updates to building contacts in the affected area as the project unfolds.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as this significant aspect of the project is completed.
— Venessa Macro, Finance & Administration
STEM@DRAKE enhances collaboration, meets top sustainability standards
The benefits of the STEM@DRAKE complex extend far beyond a clean, shiny new space. The buildings provide a collaborative and green learning environment for faculty, staff, and students.
Multiple heads are better than one
The new STEM@DRAKE buildings (Collier-Scripps Hall and the Science Connector Building) are intended to increase both the sharing of equipment and ideas. The facilities will bring science, technology, education, and math programs together to form one STEM hub on campus—boosting cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Some areas, such as the School of Education, have been housed off campus for years. By physically bringing Drake’s STEM departments together, in the heart of campus, faculty from different disciplines will easily be able to interact, problem solve, and form research partnerships. The STEM@DRAKE complex is designed to encourage this type of collaboration with an open classroom and lab structure.
Students will also benefit from engaging with their peers with other majors and skill sets who may think differently than themselves but provide a unique perspective into solving the same problem.
By forming a more cohesive environment, the STEM@DRAKE complex will be a catalyst for transforming the way we educate tomorrow’s scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators, and teachers.
Blue is green
The new spaces will receive Green Globe certification, demonstrating the University’s strong commitment to sustainable practices. This means the buildings were designed to meet high standards in energy efficiency and reduce environmental waste. The buildings are only the second project in Iowa to receive Green Globe certification.
Moving into new quarters
Faculty and staff are in the midst of moving into the new buildings; the School of Education will move into Collier-Scripps Hall this week. After the academic year has begun and once move-in is complete, faculty and staff from across campus are welcome to stop into Collier-Scripps Hall or the Science Connector Building to view the new facilities.
Tune in to the next issue of OnCampus for more features of the STEM@DRAKE facilities
Construction activity this week
The installation of the GeoPier foundation system will begin the week of March 28. Those buildings and occupants in the immediate surrounding areas will experience noise and possibly minimal vibration as a result of the compaction of the foundation material. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Drake Public Safety (515-271-222) to report the issue.
Important construction updates
27th Street Closure
As part of STEM@DRAKE construction, 27th Street will close permanently today, March 14. No parking or thru traffic will be allowed; two handicap parking spaces at the south end of the west side of 27th Street (next to Opperman Hall) will remain open. Sidewalks along 27th Street will also be shut down. For an overview of closures, visit the Building STEM@DRAKE website.
Electrical Shutdowns This Week
Today, March 14, a scheduled electrical shutdown will occur from approximately 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The affected buildings include Olin, Bell Center, Fieldhouse, Fine Arts (North), The Knapp Center, and Shivers. This scheduled shutdown is a part of the electrical projects that need to be completed prior to the construction of the two buildings on the campus. The rain date for the shutdown is March 15.
On March 19 and March 20 an additional scheduled electrical shutdown will occur. Below is a list of the affected buildings and expected time of the power outage for each building:
March 19
- Olin Hall—2 to 4 hours
- Bell Center—12 to 16 hours
- Fieldhouse—12 to 16 hours
- Knapp Center will be out for both days
- Shivers will be out for both days
March 20
- Olin Hall—6 to 8 hours
- Knapp Center—8 to 10 hours
- Shivers—8 to 10 hours
Rain dates will need to be found later in the spring semester or early summer. If bad weather is predicted, we may start on March 18, depending on scheduled events. If a decision is made to start on March 18, all individuals in these buildings will be notified. If you have questions regarding these scheduled electrical shutdowns please contact Jolene Schmidt, director, operations and support services, at jolene.schmidt@drake.edu.
Temporary Sidewalk Closure
The sidewalk between Olin and Medbury will be closed March 14–18 to install a drainage pipe that crosses in that area. Users of this sidewalk will need to either walk south around Medbury or north along Forest Avenue and around Olin Hall. We understand this is an inconvenience, however we would like to take care of this work over spring break to minimize any disruption.
Upcoming electrical shutdowns
On March 14, a scheduled electrical shutdown will occur from approximately 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The affected buildings include Olin, Bell Center, Fieldhouse, Fine Arts (North), The Knapp Center, and Shivers. This scheduled shutdown is a part of the electrical projects that need to completed prior to the construction of the two buildings on the campus. The rain date for the shutdown is March 15.
On March 19 and March 20 an additional scheduled electrical shutdown will occur. Below is a list of the affected buildings and expected time of the power outage for each building:
March 19
- Olin Hall—2 to 4 hours
- Bell Center—12 to 16 hours
- Fieldhouse—12 to 16 hours
- Knapp Center will be out for both days
- Shivers will be out for both days
March 20
- Olin Hall—6 to 8 hours
- Knapp Center—8 to 10 hours
- Shivers—8 to 10 hours
Rain dates will need to be found later in the spring semester or early summer. If bad weather is predicted, we may start on March 18, depending on scheduled events. If a decision is made to start on March 18, all individuals in these buildings will be notified. If you have questions regarding these scheduled electrical shutdowns please contact Jolene Schmidt, director, operations and support services, at jolene.schmidt@drake.edu.
—Jolene Schmidt
From President Martin: STEM@DRAKE progress
This past Saturday, Drake officially broke ground on Collier-Scripps Hall, the new building that will be home to the School of Education, the department of mathematics and computer science, and The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center. The building derives its name from lead donors Jim Collier, who received his Master of Arts in Education from Drake, and Ric Scripps and Debbie Engstrom Scripps, who received their Bachelor of Arts in Teaching degrees from Drake; Debbie is also a former member of the Drake Board of Trustees.
As the first free-standing academic building construction in 20 years, this is certainly a monumental and exciting project. The STEM@DRAKE complex will enable us to offer new academic programs in the sciences, including kinesiology, occupational therapy, and athletic training, bringing in new students and bolstering our efforts to meet the community’s needs in the fields of science, education, technology, and math. It also brings the School of Education on to campus, a move that has long been anticipated and will ensure that our mission of providing an exceptional learning environment for all of our students is being met.
This new complex and the renovations to existing buildings that comprise the STEM@DRAKE project will not just benefit those students, faculty, and staff engaged in the specific departments or programs that will be housed there. This initiative will provide new study and collaboration spaces for students and faculty alike. The Collier-Scripps building will be home to The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, an important part of our continuing commitment to engage in our surrounding community and to advance our values of civility and leadership. The gender neutral bathrooms and nursing and lactation rooms that will be included in both Collier-Scripps and the science connector building represent our priority to provide an inclusive learning and living environment for faculty, staff, and students.
Many members of our campus are hard at work to ensure the STEM@DRAKE project is completed on time and on budget, and I extend my thanks to them. Throughout the process we will have some growing pains, and I appreciate the community’s understanding that some temporary disturbances due to construction are a necessary function of progress. I encourage you to visit www.drake.edu/buildingstem for more details about STEM@DRAKE and for updates on progress. This investment in Drake’s future is one that will benefit the University for years to come, and your support is greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Marty