In the fall of 2003, the University opened its Science Center, which affords new and renovated facilities to support science education at UD. The Science Center physically, functionally, and symbolically connects Sherman and Wohlleben Halls, the buildings that house our natural science and mathematics departments; increases synergy and communications between the science departments to facilitate the type of interdisciplinary efforts that will mark the future of the sciences; and creates additional spaces for students to interact and study, thereby reflecting the learning centered nature of the education process at the University. The Science Center demonstrates the University’s continued commitment to excellence in science education. The center not only serves the science and engineering majors of the University, but also provides new or renovated facilities for general education science courses that are taken by all of our undergraduate students.

A lecture facility incorporates a distinctive elliptical shape that features the sciences on the Kennedy Union plaza. The atrium and classroom/laboratory structure connecting Sherman and Wohlleben Halls include spaces to afford gathering, interaction, and study opportunities for students, state-of-the-art teaching laboratories and classrooms, and a circulation pattern that reinforces the goals of physically and functionally connecting the sciences. Classrooms in the new facility feature multimedia equipment and connections for student computers. Also included are a team classroom, a microbiology/genetics laboratory, an anatomy and physiology laboratory, organic chemistry laboratories, and a shared instrumentation facility for the sciences.

This construction effort is the second of a planned three-phase effort to expand and improve our facilities for science education. Phase I included upgrades to the infrastructure of the existing buildings within the center and renovation of selected laboratory and classroom facilities. The second phase was a $22 million effort that addressed the goals and concepts described above. The planned Phase III will continue the renovation of facilities within Sherman and Wohlleben Halls to better serve the teaching and research needs of our students and faculty.