Engineering complex undergoes renovations

Massive construction on the Towne and Moore buildings is almost complete -- just in time for Vice President Al Gore's visit to campus Wednesday. Gore will be in the Moore Building for ENIAC's 50th anniversary celebration, at which time he will join in a ceremony to switch on the computer. The construction, which includes painting hallways and classrooms and refurbishing lighting systems, began over winter break and is ongoing, according to Operations Services Manager Patricia Pancoast. "[This work] has been in the planning for two or three years now," Pancoast said. But while many School of Engineering and Applied Science students appreciate the changes, some said they could not help wondering if the changes were related to Gore's presence on campus. Engineering sophomore Thandi Baxter said she recently noticed new lighting and pastel walls in both buildings, retiled floors in the Moore Building and a gold-lettered plaque identifying the undergraduate electrical engineering laboratory. "The buildings definitely look better than before," Baxter said. "I'm sure the changes have to do with the school looking nice for the people coming here on Wednesday, especially Al Gore." And Engineering sophomore Jeremy Seidman agreed. "Compared to other buildings on campus, [the Moore and Towne buildings] were lagging behind in modernness and attractiveness," Seidman said. "But it could also have something to do with Gore being here." But Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington stressed that the renovation needed to be done and was not connected to Gore's presence. "[Gore] isn't going anywhere near some of the renovated areas," Farrington said. "We realize that outstanding teaching and outstanding research require excellent facilities, and we are going to do everything we can to provide that." Farrington said the renovation started six years ago. Some of the other restorations include new shelving, lighting and paint for the Moore library, new third-floor windows for the Moore Building and new lighting on the first floor of the Towne Building and the first three floors of the Moore Building, according to Farrington. He cited the need for research productivity and effective learning environments as the reasons for the renovations.