Viewers can watch building going up at LSC-University Park via a live webcam

Construction is under way on Lone Star College-University Park’s new Center for Science & Innovation at the corner of University Park Campus Drive and Compaq Center Drive West and those interested can watch it take shape via a live webcam.

President Shah Ardalan said the 50,000-square-foot building will help the College meet the academic needs of its rapidly growing population. It is due to open in fall 2017.

Funding of the $14.8 million project comes from the LSC Bond Referendum approved in 2014.

“This innovative facility will provide students with a state-of-the-art learning environment and will encourage more students to consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) careers,” Ardalan said.

Designed by Kirksey Architecture, the three-story structure will have 12 science labs. A glass wall on one end of the labs will allow people outside of the rooms to observe experiments and lab work.

LSC-University Park’s Dean of Math and Sciences, Veronique Tran, Ph.D., said those involved with the design – especially science faculty members – wanted to create a space that encouraged students to explore.

“We wanted to have science on display and be inviting in terms of a space of learning and discovery,” Tran said. “It’s going to be very open and just a building you would want to be in -- a very modern science building.

The new facility will feature several unique spaces: an observation deck for astronomy courses, an “innovation space” with a tutoring area and a computer classroom and an interior wall made of rock where geology students can learn about formations.