At Christopher Newport University (CNU), construction has been underway for the newest academic building on campus, The Science and Engineering Research Center, for about a year and a half. Students across the campus are excited about this new architectural feat, but struggle with the constant noise it produces.
The new building holds promise for Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students, with new facilities dedicated to scientific research and experimentation. Sophomore and Business Management major Evan Anderegg said, “It’s going to be really good for the science and business department in general…It will be a big draw for science majors.”
However, some students find it difficult to follow a daily routine. “I currently live in Warwick River Hall, on the first floor, directly across from the construction, and it is a nightmare. The amount of times me and my roommate have been woken up way too early and it’s still dark out when they are doing construction is crazy,” said sophomore Tatum Foster. Foster stated that she was excited for the construction to be over, but that she is not likely to be able to use the new facilities because of the projected completion of the building.
According to Glavé & Holmes’ website, the building is to be dedicated to departments in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Physics, and will feature classrooms and laboratories that are open for student and faculty interaction. This new academic building will expand the campus and the departments it intends to house, but some students cannot help but reminisce about the field the space used to be.
“I just remember there were a lot of trees, and people would have their hammocks, or they would just sit out there and eat, like how they do on the Great Lawn now,” said junior Rachel Murphy. Murphy adds that the greenery added to the overall beauty of the campus, and now they are replacing it with a large structure.
Many of the students felt like the construction zone was an inconvenience for them at one point or another while in attendance at the university.
“Now that I live on east campus it’s not that bad. I lived in Warwick last year when they were first starting. It was really loud and we would get woken up at 7 or 7:30 every morning and it was really annoying, especially when they were leveling the ground,” junior Amanda Barlow said.
There are also worries of the construction disturbances impacting classroom learning and academics. Junior Ella Salzman had several classes in Luter Hall at CNU, right next to the construction. “The construction outside was really loud and we would have to take breaks in the lecture because of how loud and obnoxious it was. Honestly it made it really hard to understand a lot of the lecture,” Salzman said.
Many students noted how the classrooms near the work zone often shook during the hours of operation, and how that was a distraction during classes. “It’s only happened once where it has been distracting in class. Other than that I’m excited, I just wish it wasn’t outside my building” said Foster.
“I know it’ll go away eventually, so it doesn’t really bother me that much,” freshman Sarah Paisley said.
The Science and Research Center is slated to be completed by the Spring of 2026.
