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Physics & Astronomy Gets A New Home
The Applied Science Project is a $93.5 million endeavor that includes renovation of the historic William Stewart Building and a new 100,000-square-foot building with modern teaching labs and state-of-the-art research facilities. Upon completion in 2025, these spaces will house the Department of Physics & Astronomy as well as the Department of Atmospheric Sciences along with The Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy.
Researchers in Physics & Astronomy will use the facilities for a range of activities, such as developing new advances in semiconductors and quantum materials and managing the Willard Eccles Observatory telescope at Frisco Peak. The partnership between the two departments is a component of the merger between the College of Science and the College of Mines and Earth Sciences, announced in 2022.
“The collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of this project will bring together faculty and students who will work together to address the grand challenges of our day and make great advances in fundamental research,” says Peter Trapa, dean of the College of Science.
The project will boost the capacity for crucial undergraduate courses, allowing departments to address record STEM enrollment. Classes taught in the buildings are necessary for 37 different STEM degree programs and nine pre-professional programs, including all engineering, pre-medical, and computer science majors. Along with access to modern experiential teaching spaces, students will avoid bottlenecks in high-demand courses, helping reduce graduation time.
When completed, the Crocker Science Center and the two buildings in the Applied Science Project will form the Crocker Science Complex. The complex, made possible by an $8.5 million gift from Gary and Ann Crocker, will create a dynamic interdisciplinary STEM nexus at the U.
