by Matt Durant
Staff Writer
University of La Verne is adding another new renovation to its campus. The building which once housed the Wilson Library when it was being built is now at the end of renovations.
The new building will house the Education Department, which was formerly on the second floor of the Mainiero Building.
Director of Facilities Management Brian Worley, said the new building is “13,000 square feet and will hold four classrooms, one large seminar room and one small seminar room along with professors offices.”
Worley also said it, “will enable the whole Education Department to move out of Mainiero and the Science Department can now move from the first floor and expand to the second floor also.”
The building itself was completely reconstructed with new stucco and drywall. “The metal trellis around the outside, you see, is going to have leaves and flowers on it depending on what time of year it is,” Worley added.
Dr. Peggy Redman director of teacher education, said, “It will now be used for all Education programs, undergrad, credential and master programs.”
“This is going to give is all more room and now the programs can be extended. Teachers come from all over to be in the program,” Dr. Redman said. “In the last five years that the program has tripled.”
The funding for the building came from several different places. The total cost of the building is $1.2 million. Trustee member Jerry Laird donated $150,000. The Rio Hondo Foundation donated $500,000 and the Plant Foundation donated the rest of the money.
The building is expected to be completed by the spring semester. The Education Department will move to its new location in early January and the building, yet unnamed, will be dedicated shortly thereafter.
The building went up for grabs when the University decided to renovate. Departments that felt they were in need of a new facility were allowed to request it.
The Education Department requested the space because it felt it was in need of more space. At the same time, this transition would also allow the Science Department, which includes the biology, chemistry and physics programs, to move into the second floor and expand as well into the vacated space.
Dr. Redman said, “We are really excited that the University put forth an effort to improve the facilities for our department and for our students and staff.”
Matt Durant
