The Psychology Department, with its faculty currently split between two aging buildings in need of repair -- Solomon Laboratories of Experimental Psychology at 3720 Walnut Street and the Psychology Faculty Office Building at 3815 Walnut Street -- will soon see some major renovations and shuffling of office space.
When completed in January 2004, the Psychology Department will have entirely vacated the space at 3815 Walnut Street, instead, occupying upgraded spaces in Solomon Laboratories and 3401 Walnut Street, according to Ramin Sedehi, School of Arts and Sciences vice dean for finance and administration.
The renovations to Solomon Laboratories will include updated hallways, new paint and carpeting, as well as improvements to the stairwells and a gathering spot for undergraduates, complete with computer kiosks.
The improvements should help create more attractive and viable space, especially for undergraduates, according to Sedehi.
Additionally, the relocated offices will allow faculty members pursuing similar areas of research to be in closer proximity.
Although plans call for eventually unifying the Psychology Department under one roof in the second phase of the Life Sciences Building, realization of that goal is a minimum of five years away. In the meantime, members of the Psychology Department said the relocations will be a step in the right direction.
"These will be very good interim improvements and will increase morale," Psychology Department Chairman Robert DeRubeis said. "They will also put groups in the department in a way that they will be... more cohesive."
The first phase of office relocations will occur within the next few weeks, as five faculty members studying psycholinguistics -- two of whom are new additions to the Psychology Department -- will be moving into offices at 3401 Walnut Street.
In the fall, some of the offices currently located in Solomon Laboratories will relocate as part of the second phase of renovations, and offices housed in 3815 Walnut Street will relocate to Solomon Laboratories by the end of 2003, according to the schedule.
While the moving will be somewhat disruptive, members of the Psychology Department said the improved space will be worth the inconvenience because it will benefit faculty who work together and additional space is necessary for the growing department.
"We wouldn't do it if the long-run advantages weren't worth it," said Robert Rescorla, director of undergraduate studies in psychology.
