With the completion of Beck Academic Hall, Gustavus will now resume work on other renovation projects. These plans include renovations of the Anderson Social Science Center and Lund Center, along with a revamping of Nobel Hall, a task that has been in the development process for quite some time.

The current building was Finishedin 1962 and dedicated in the fall of 1963.

“It was an amazing building for that time,” Associate Professor in Chemistry Scott Bur said, “and it still is. But as programs changed, we started talking in the early ‘80s about expansion and renovation.”

In contrast to how Nobel Hall is utilized today, the building initially held the math and physics departments as well as biology and chemistry.  Over time, these subdivisions grew and it was decided that additional space was needed to fulfill the potential of all departments that the building encompassed.

“We needed too much square footage,” Bur said, “So Olin Hall was built in the late ‘80s and dedicated in 1992. That was when Physics moved out of Nobel and there was space for Geography and Geology, both spread out in the lower levels. As a second piece of that, a modest renovation of the Carlson Pavilion was finished in 1997.”

During the planning process, the question of how buildings help facilitate students’ learning was asked multiple times. People from various institutions came and looked at the space that Nobel offered in the hopes of improving how the area was used.

During this time, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies and Director of Linnaeus Arboretum Cindy Johnson, who was dean at the time, made a case to expand Nobel.

Representatives from the biology, chemistry, neuroscience and other science departments argued the need to address the issue of spatial use in Nobel.

Big strategic planning finally began for Nobel in 2009. In accordance to how faculty and staff wanted programs to work, a general proposal of how the building should work had been drawn. During the time lapse between then and now, however, was the crucial planning process of the college’s sesquicentennial.

Only after Beck Hall had been built and Gustavus 150 plans had been completed successfully would Nobel Hall at last become one of the new top priorities.

“In January,” Bur said, “I was asked if I would lead that process—getting architects hired and being the contact between staff and administration to set communication straight.”

Over the summer, the gears were set to initiate plans for renovation. Architects from across the nation were interviewed by staff and students alike.

Senior Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major Michelle Kirkvold said, “Summer Research students representing different science departments narrowed down the architects to three different firms. We factored in who listened to us and took in our views and opinions. We were one factor of many, but we gave input on how Nobel could be used.”

Some of these ideas included better lighting, having a communal space, bigger labs and classrooms as well as using the atrium effectively.

“One idea for Nobel was adding a café since it’s such a central building. Students wouldn’t have to walk all the way to the Jackson Campus Center late at night when they’re studying,” Kirkvold said. “The main idea, though, is to just have a building that facilitates the collaboration between different subjects and disciplines.”

“From the beginning, students have been a big part of the process,” Bur said. “We picked the architect that students liked the best, which was Hastings+Chivetta Architects, Inc., hired out of St. Louis, Mo.”

“Assuming that the money we need is going to be there from campaigning and fundraising, we’re looking at having construction going on in the summer of 2013 and hopefully before that actually. We’d like to have the dedication in the fall of 2014 with the building being in use during the academic year of 2013 and 2014,” Bur said.

“I’m most excited for the opportunity we have to change how Gustavus does science.  Nobel isn’t a very ideal building right now for the sciences and doesn’t represent them well,” Junior Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major Laura Leland said.

Financially, there isn’t a set number yet as to how much renovation will cost. This will all depend on what the architects can do based on what Gustavus wants.

“Nobel Hall is about 100,000 square feet,” Bur said. “We’re thinking initially that we need another 50,000 square feet to do the things we want to do. We are looking at a budget of approximately 50 million dollars.

The need for additional space is fairly well recognized at Nobel, but there is some question about the timing and financing, especially since a renovation of Anderson Social Science Center is supposed to go on. Through a complicated system of accounting, they were made separate projects. Lund is also a priority. That one is already set in motion, as well as Nobel. These are the two most immediate. This summer coming up, Anderson will be renovated.”

For more information on plans for Nobel, visit nhsfacilities.blog.gustavus.edu.