WILKES-BARRE -- A $35 million construction project is now complete at Wilkes University in Luzerne County. The new Lawrence and Sally Cohen Science Center was dedicated on Friday.
This 72,000 square foot science center took a little more than a year to build. Students have been using it since the school year started. On Friday, Newswatch 16 got a peek inside the new state of the art building.
As students at Wilkes University head to class, a new building towers above them: the $35 million Cohen Science Center. A building that biology major Kyla Halsor said is a welcome addition.
"We're seeing it be put up and built and hearing all these things about it, and to be able to finally be able to come in was great and seeing what they've been doing over the years," said Wilkes senior Kyla Halsor.
Crews broke ground on the state of the art building in May of 2012. Each floor is for a specific major: biology, chemistry, and a research floor. The building is also connected to the Stark Learning Center, where many of the 260 science majors also have class. Officials say every inch of the 72-thousand square feet is used. The equipment inside is new, the space larger, and the whole building is "green."
"It's designed to be as efficient, economical and efficient to heat and cool as possible," said project manager Robert Becker.
Students are even able to use the rooftop of the building for their classes. There's an experimental area over here and a brand new greenhouse.
Wilkes senior Rachel Gill said with the added resources here, she'll be ready to graduate, come May.
"It makes you feel more prepared for when you go into the real world and have a job and you're going to apply somewhere," said Wilkes senior Rachel Gill.
A dedication ceremony was held here on campus for the new building. The university said just about every student on campus will have a class in the new building.