IAST project to start this summer

The Institute for Advanced Science and Technology has cleared the final bureaucratic hurdle standing in the way of the its commencement and the demolition of Smith Hall. The project has been the focus of more than four years of planning, studies, discussion and debate between the University and the U.S. Air Force. Yesterday, Vice Provost for Research Barry Cooperman released the Environmental Impact Study -- which the Air Force has finally completed after three years of work. And the EIS, which also includes the historical impact report, indicates that the multi-million dollar plan to demolish Smith Hall and build the IAST can finally begin. Cooperman said Smith Hall's destruction will probably begin this summer. The drawn-out history of the IAST began in 1991 when the federal government selected the University as the site for the high-tech building. The project was eventually turned over to the Air Force, which began to study the plan's historical and environmental significance -- focusing particularly on Smith Hall. It was not until recently that the potential IAST site was deemed appropriate by the Air Force. Yesterday, this decision was finally made public. The IAST is slated to house space for the Chemistry Department, additional Chemical Engineering labs and research space for the Bioengineering department Despite yesterday's dramatic progress, the waiting game for the University is not yet over. The Air Force will not provide a Record of Decision until April 24 at the earliest -- exactly one month after the EIS will appear in the Federal Register. Cooperman said he was pleased the study was finally released, although he added that he was "frustrated" by the length of time the process took. "I was unhappy about how long it has taken," he said. "A three year process could have been done in a year and a half." A Memorandum of Agreement has been formed between all parties involved in the IAST project and review. These include the University, U.S. Air Force, the Philadelphia Historical Commission, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. According to Cooperman, the EIS determined that the physical environmental concerns are "very, very minor." However, the primary debate concerned Smith Hall's historical value, as an individual building and within the context of the buildings surrounding it. "You have to justify what you're doing," Cooperman said. "The campus of Penn is properly viewed as a historic and cultural resource and we are custodians of that." But Cooperman said the EIS found that the historical value of Smith Hall by itself is at the "lower end" in comparison to other University buildings. Since Smith Hall's location is a "desirable site," the various parties involved in the IAST project decided that the demolition could occur. "If ever there was going to be a case where you could do this, this is it," Cooperman said. The Memorandum of Agreement indicates that it is up to the University to determine whether there is anything from the building that should be salvaged for posterity. In addition, Cooperman said the building and the historical aspects of the area will be photographed. "The memorandum provides for a design review process to ensure the compatibility of new construction with the surrounding district," Air Force spokesperson Jane Knowlton said. The agreement also requires the University to develop a plan for "interpreting the history and buildings of the Central Science Precinct for students, faculty and visitors." In addition, Cooperman said the University will develop a Cultural Resources Management Plan to "manage its cultural resources, specifically historical properties," while still upholding the University's mission. According to Cooperman, the construction phase of the project will cost between $44 and $50 million. Three additional phases of construction will add further costs. The Air Force has already allocated $23.75 million dollars in grant money for the IAST project. Its total contribution could reach $35 million, Associate Director for Federal Relations Carl Maugeri said.