Groundbreaking for College of Science and Mathematics construction set for Aug. 23
Officials will break ground on a new College of Science and Math building on the Health Sciences Campus in August.
Augusta University’s Campus Master Plan, released in 2016 as a guide to facilitate the growth and maturation of the institution, included the announcement of a vision to move the College of Science and Mathematics from the Summerville Campus to the Health Sciences Campus. This vision would necessitate the construction of a new building. The state’s FY2018 budget contained funds to plan the building, and the FY2019 budget, effective July 1, 2018, contained funds for construction of the building, which is currently expected to be completed sometime in 2021.
This website will provide information regarding progress on the design and construction of the building as well as the numerous plans for physically moving the college. The website currently includes answers to a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Over time, additions to the website will include information graphics, a link to a web cam feed when construction begins, and more. Visitors to this website are encouraged to return periodically as further developments allow the inclusion of additional information.
If you have a question that has not yet been answered, please submit using our question submission form.
The decision to construct a modern new building to house the College of Science and Mathematics on the Health Sciences Campus is strategic. Situating this college in immediate proximity to our colleges of medicine, dental medicine, nursing, and allied health sciences, as well as the AU Medical Center, will distinguish Augusta University from all other institutions in the University System of Georgia. This will enhance Augusta University’s attractiveness to students interested in pursuing careers in the health sciences and advance the university’s goal to grow enrollment. Further, the addition of research laboratories in the new building will increase the ability of our faculty and students to conduct scientific research and will support the creation of additional graduate programs.
As President Brooks Keel has pointed out, undergraduates will have the opportunity to study and work side by side with “the white coats” — that is, students who have been admitted into professional programs preparing them for an array of careers in health care. This enriched environment will have a positive impact on the progression of our students and promote the recruitment of new students from across the state and the region.
Science Hall on the Summerville Campus was designed and constructed primarily to support the teaching mission of Augusta State University (ASU). While the teaching mission remains integral to Augusta University, the institution is committed also to a research mission, as reflected in the University’s strategic plan, “Beyond Boundaries.” This plan establishes the goal to “enhance research infrastructure, support services, resources and operational efficiencies, enabling faculty, staff, students, and trainees to successfully pursue research, scholarship and creative endeavors.”
Student opportunities to engage in scientific research as undergraduates — to “do” science rather than just study it — will be expanded given the close proximity to researchers on the Health Sciences Campus. Moreover, College of Science and Mathematics faculty researchers will benefit from cross-disciplinary interactions and collaborations with colleagues on the Health Science Campus, thereby facilitating Augusta University’s evolution toward becoming a comprehensive research university with Carnegie R1 status.
The new College of Science and Mathematics building will be constructed on the Health Sciences Campus, not the Summerville Campus, in part because Summerville is a National Historic District, which limits development. The relocation of the college into a new building tailored to the present and future needs of faculty and students will allow the remaining colleges on Summerville, as well as the College of Science and Mathematics, to grow.
NOTE: Each of these three outside firms has extensive experience working with the University System of Georgia.
The new College of Science and Mathematics will be adjacent to the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons and the Dental College of Georgia. It will be within close proximity to Jaguar Park (the student residence halls) and the Student Wellness Center.
Please refer to this map. As the building design has not been finalized, this map is not meant to represent any building specifics, only a general indication of location.
Construction timelines are typically fluid. The following is an approximate/tentative
timeframe for completion of the design and construction of the building:
Budget finalized: May 2018
Groundbreaking (target): Summer 2019
Occupancy (target): Summer 2021
The new College of Science and Mathematics will be a modern facility. A key feature of the building is a ventilation system that will support both teaching and scientic research laboratories. A robust wireless system will extend throughout the building.
Classrooms are available in surrounding buildings on the Health Sciences Campus. A number of these classrooms have been refreshed with upgraded IT capabilities within the past year. The Offices of the Registrar and Information Technology (IT), in conjunction with the Office of the Provost, are working to refresh a number of other classrooms such that there will be appropriate accommodations for classes taught by all colleges on the Health Sciences Campus.
The College of Science and Mathematics is already piloting two classes on the Health Sciences Campus in fall semester 2018. The college will continue to offer courses on the Health Sciences Campus, working out any issues that may arise, in order to be ready for the move to that campus upon completion of the new building.
There will be a comfortably furnished lobby, additional study spaces, private meeting rooms which can be reserved for group study, graduate student write-up spaces, and printer stations available to students.
Most dedicated research space will be located on the fourth floor and will be built out after occupancy of the building. While the final design for the building has not been approved, the current plan includes research laboratories and support spaces, faculty offices, graduate student write-up spaces, and a conference room.
Augusta University Parking and Transportation Services began working with a national transportation firm on a consultancy basis in early 2017 to design a transit route to serve the Nathan Deal Campus for Innovation on the Riverfront Campus. As that work progressed, it became clear that the route could also enhance transit operations to serve the new College of Science and Mathematics.
The consultants conducted an extensive focus group and two open forums on the AU campus in the fall of 2017 and early 2018. As of July 1, 2018, the current route (formerly known as the Teal Route) has been extended to the Nathan Deal Campus and is now known as the Blue Route. It provides service to the Forest Hills, Summerville, Health Sciences and Nathan Deal Campuses. When operating at full capacity, there are eight buses on the Blue Route providing service to each stop every 8-12 minutes. There are stops at Christenberry Fieldhouse, University Village, Summerville Campus Main Entrance (eastbound), Summerville Science/Allgood Hall (westbound), Health Sciences Campus at Laney Walker (eastbound), Health Sciences Campus Goss Lane (westbound) and the Nathan Deal Campus for Innovation.
The JagExpress system will continue to monitor the efficiency of the system as ridership increases and as the relocation of the College of Science and Mathematics approaches so that further adjustments can be made as needed.
The shuttle tracking application provides patrons with more information and improved usability. Augusta University uses technology to actively manage the buses on the routes and ensure appropriate, consistent intervals between shuttle pick up and drop off.
The new building will be constructed on the site of Lot 10, the gravel lot in front of the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons and The Dental College of Georgia. Therefore, Lot 10 will close at the end of the spring 2019 semester, so that enabling work that is needed before breaking ground, such as utility relocation, can begin. Approximately 250 parking spaces will be displaced at that time.
Some existing individual reserved spaces will be relocated to Deck #4 (CP Deck on Goss Lane). Planning to address the replacement of non-reserved parking and accessible (handicap) spaces is ongoing. The University maintains a number of parking decks and satellite lots served by the campus shuttle system:
The safety of our faculty, staff and students is our top priority. Read about enhanced security measures the Augusta University Police Department and AU Health Security are implementing around campus, particularly in our outer parking lots.
Please refer to the Parking & Transportation Services website for more information.
While the final design for the building has not been approved, the current design plan does include handicap accessible parking spaces close to the new building.
On the Summerville Campus, there are currently two shuttle stops. The pick-up/drop-off location for the eastbound shuttle is located at the turnaround just inside the Walton Way entrance next to University Hall. The stop for the westbound shuttle is in the parking lot adjacent to Science and Allgood Halls. On the Health Sciences Campus, there is a stop on Laney-Walker Boulevard near the Student Wellness Center (eastbound shuttle) and a stop on Spellman Street in front of Oak Hall (westbound shuttle).
The location of shuttle stops may change over time due to construction projects and other factors. To stay informed, please visit the web page for the AU Transit System.
While a final design for the building has not yet been approved, the current plan is for offices to be 106 square feet. The offices may have sliding doors, allowing for better use of space.
Yes. The design of this green space is still under discussion, but will include the area between the new building, the Harrison Commons, and the Dental College of Georgia. As plans are finalized, these FAQs will be updated.
In the current design, most offices are expected to have exterior windows, and a limited number of interior offices will not have windows.
Final design plans are not yet complete, but the objective is to provide privacy in offices.
Input from faculty will be taken into consideration as final decisions regarding furniture are made.
No, all furniture in the building will be new. The furniture in Allgood Hall needs to remain for the use of those who will use these offices.
The new building will include the following:
Please submit questions using our question submission form. Frequently submitted questions will be added to these FAQs as answers become available.
Officials will break ground on a new College of Science and Math building on the Health Sciences Campus in August.
Please note this important change in the Blue Route pickup location for shuttle riders going from the Health Sciences Campus to Summerville.
Follow these steps to help with parking lot closure.
A portion of Goss Lane will be one way until June 1 during sewer work.