The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., has awarded Bethel a $725,000 challenge grant for renovation of Old Science Hall into the Academic Center.
To receive the grant, the college must raise an additional $921,424 by April 2011. The purpose of a challenge grant is to provide incentive for enlisting the support of a broad base of donors.
Old Science Hall, constructed in 1925, is the second oldest building on campus after the Administration Building. It currently sees limited use, housing mathematics faculty offices and classrooms and the campus computer labs as well as Institutional Communications and Information and Media Services offices.
The major renovation of the building will result in a facility that accommodates, in addition to mathematics, the departments of Bible and religion, business, history, nursing, social work and teacher education — including faculty offices, classrooms, labs, seminar and conference rooms, student and faculty lounges, the student health center, nursing simulation classrooms, nursing practice and post-op rooms — along with an elevator, atrium and accessible restrooms.
The latter three features will add 11,475 square feet to the 27,240-square-foot structure and will bring the building into ADA compliance. Plans also include exterior groundwork for accessibility and landscaping, and a 45-space parking lot.