By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

They are the envy of many of the construction workers laboring at Eastern Oregon University this summer.

These are the individuals who are working inside Eastern's new $33.5 million science building construction project. Unlike the other people working on the project, these people have been toiling in air-conditioned comfort during Northeast Oregon's recent heat wave.

They are completing work in the Oregon Health & Science University research facility within the new building. This is the only portion of the building where major work still needs to be done.

"They (the construction workers) love it in here because it's air conditioned. It's where everyone (the other construction workers) want to be,'' said EOU's Charles A. Arvidson, manager of the construction project.

Construction of the new science building is so far along that 24 Eastern professors have moved into their offices in the building.

The faculty members moved in from Badgley Hall, the old science building, which will be dramatically renovated over the next year and connected to the science building.

EOU staff members now working in the new 67,000-square-foot science building include Rosa Lucas, an office specialist for Eastern's School of Arts and Sciences. She worked in Badgley Hall for nine years before moving into the new building.

"It is like night and day. It is very modern,'' Lucas said. "I think that the students will love it here. It is a completely different atmosphere.''

Lucas noted that the new building's labs are spacious and filled with state-of-the-art features that students will appreciate. For example, at each lab station there are outlets where students can hook their laptop computers to the Internet. This will make it easy for students to gather information and communicate with people at other universities conducting research.

In spite of the many modern features, Lucas feels a tinge of sadness after moving out of Badgley Hall.

"I kind of miss it. It had character,'' Lucas said.

Badgley, which has about 30,000 square feet, has served as Eastern's science facility since the mid-1960s. Badgley will provide most of the office space for the science center. Most of the classroom and lab space in

the building now will be converted into offices during the remodeling.

Badgley Hall and the new science building will be connected by a stairwell enclosed by a glass curtain wall. Construction of the stairwell is under way.

Once the project is completed, the new building and Badgley Hall will seem as one.

Classes will be taught in the new science building beginning in the fall term.

In addition to the renovation of Badgley, the construction of a 150-seat lecture hall will be completed next year. The lecture hall will be in the southeast corner of the science center adjacent to Badgley. The auditorium will be named after David Huber, an EOU alumnus who donated $500,000 to the science center in December 2001.

John Miller, EOU's provost and vice president for academic affairs, believes the science center will help recruit outstanding science students and professors to Eastern. He said that few universities can offer their students as much in terms of the lab and research space and the technological resources that the science center will provide.

Windows in labs on the third floor of the new science building will provide students with a panoramic view of Mount Emily and downtown La Grande.

"It will be a distraction,'' Miller said with a smile.

Once all of the finishing touches are completed, the building will house a 7,500-square foot biotech lab along with 27 other high-tech labs, a large greenhouse, many classrooms and more.

Federal, state and private sources are providing funding for the building.

Partners with Eastern in the project include the Oregon Health & Science University's nursing program, Oregon State University's agriculture program, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's fish pathology

lab and Portland State University's engineering program.