WELCOME BACK: Restrictions may construction on Smith Hall site

Despite the University's plans to build a new research facility on the current site of Smith Hall, U.S. Air Force restrictions will keep the project on hold for at least a year, officials said last month. At a public meeting on August 19, Charles Holland, director of math and science research for the Air Force, explained that the government must conduct an environmental impact study before the University can begin building the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. The Air Force will probably contribute half the cost of the $75 million building, Vice Provost for Research Barry Cooperman said, and therefore has a major impact on the progress of the construction. The delay on construction of the IAST means the razing of the century-old Smith Hall will also be delayed. University officials said they will not start the demolition, which has been the subject of controversy on campus, until the study has been completed. Holland said the study -- which officially began at the meeting -- will determine what effect the new structure will have on its surroundings. At the meeting, he accepted opinions about the IAST from the nearly 60 University faculty, architects, alumni, community members and other interested parties. Most participants expressed concern for the aesthetics of Smith Walk and the type of research that will be conducted. University graduate Michael Lewis, who is an architect, emphasized the importance of the historic building to the design of the area. History and Sociology of Science professor Robert Kohler, who has led the campaign to save Smith Hall, accused the Air Force of scheduling the meeting at a time when few people would be able to attend. He said the government wants to hide what it will be using the building for -- which he says will cause toxic pollution on campus. The Air Force will use the comments from the meeting and other written comments they recieve before September 11 as a starting point for its study. HSS graduate student Elizabeth Hunt, who has criticized the University for planning to tear down the historic hall, suggested an extension of the deadline so that students who are interested can respond. Gary Baumgartel, who ran the meeting for the Air Force, said after the meeting that if students are interested, he will return to campus at a more convenient time so they can add their input. Cooperman said he expects the Air Force to release a draft of its study in February, which will be followed by a second public meeting to discuss the findings. A final report is expected next July. The Air Force will then decide whether or not to go ahead with construction. Cooperman said construction of the facility, which he originally suggested in a report written during the 1987-88 schoolyear, will take 18 to 24 months. The Air Force is already committed to funding $10 million for the IAST. Cooperman said that another $10 million from the Air Force will probably be granted soon and that the University has requested another $15 million. The University is pledged to match the federal grant dollar-for-dollar. If the total contribution of the federal government reaches $35 million, the University will pay at least that much and be responsible for any remaining costs. The state government has contributed $1 million to the IAST. The University has also recieved $3.5 million from private sources, and Cooperman expects it to receive more as the project nears completion.