Georgetown’s new science building will receive the lowest rating on an environmental rating scale, the University Architect said Tuesday in a presentation to the Advisory Neighborhood Committee.
The new building will be rated “silver” in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system, according to Alan Brangman.
Construction on the building will begin in the spring of 2008, Linda Greenan, Assistant Vice President of External Relations said. “We have to redo utilities.”
Georgetown residents expressed concerns about the building’s effect on the skyline, but Brangman insisted it cannot be seen outside of campus.
The Board of Directors has authorized $100 million for the new building, Hannum said. With five stories of classrooms and labs, it will be about the same size as Reiss, according to Hannum.
“The basic facilities at Reiss are getting old,” said Steve Hannum, an academic executive assistant in the Chemistry Department.
The current science building will be used as “swing space,” Brangman said, meaning overflow classes in the new science building would remain in Reiss.
While Hannum acknowledged the small number of students taking science classes, he said it is increasing, noting about 250 students in General Chemistry and 220 students in Organic Chemistry.
shy;shy;—Additional reporting by Pierre Thompson
