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ABAC Campus Advances With New $8.5M Building By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Located on the north side of the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) campus in Tifton, Ga., the school’s new laboratory sciences building will provide biology majors with the most current technology and techniques. The $8.5 million, 20,966 sq. ft. (1,947 sq m) structure will be available to students of all majors. “The building will have specialized labs for the science majors, however, all ABAC students will use the general
biology, chemistry and the anatomy and physiology labs while they complete their core requirements,” said Johnny Evans, dean of the School of Science and Mathematics. “This is a facility that will engage all ABAC students in studying modern scientific techniques and topics.” A groundbreaking ceremony was held in June 2015 for the facility, which allows upperclassmen enrolled in the bachelor’s degree in biology program to access their research projects 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “This building is the first step in preparing the School of Science and Mathematics to be a foundation for the growth
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The $8.5 million, 20,966-sq.-ft. (1,947 sq m) structure will be available to students of all majors.
of ABAC,” Evans said. “This is a lab facility only, and as ABAC grows, this will be phase one of a science and mathematics complex.” The structure will contain eight laboratories focusing on general biology, microbiology, molecular biology, general chemistry, tissue culture, organic chemistry and anatomy/physiology. Preparation rooms also will support each lab. Several areas in the building are specifically designed for study and discussion among students. Some classrooms in the aging Gray Hall will be used for mathematics courses, but the first floor labs will all be replaced by modern labs in the new building. All updated equipment for learning about genetics, molecular biology and microbiology will be available for students, with the tissue culture lab being used to prepare plant samples for study. The Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission is managing the construction process. International City Builders Inc., Warner Robins, Ga., was selected through a bid process to construct the building. According to Kenna Scragg, vice-president of operations of International City Builders, the biggest challenge on the job involves working on an existing campus, along with tying into existing utilities. In addition, because of the nature of the building, it has a very extensive heating, air and ventilation system. “Being a science lab building, this facility has an extraordinary amount of mechanical, electrical and plumbing,” Scragg said. “Currently, we are installing science casework and completing utility tie in to casework. The building has been constructed, and we are in the finishing stages.” The property where the building is located was in fairly decent condition when site work got under way. “The existing site was a open field area where an existing building had previously been demolished,” said Scragg. “Very little material was needed in preparing the building pad.” Tasks yet to be carried out include the completion of the science casework installation, along with flooring and commissioning. The most time-consuming part of the work involves the structure’s HVAC system. Scragg said coordination on the project was tedious, due to the complexity of the system and its interface with lab equipment. Heavy machinery being used on this job includes several different types of backhoes, bobcats, mini-excavators and lulls. The early phases of site preparation required a front end loader, track hoe and a small bull dozer. Currently, an articulating man lift is on hand to install glass. Some of the main materials being utilized include consee ABAC page 4