The first structure to be built will be J. Newton Rayzor Hall, a 37,616 square feet space housing the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering departments. The two-story Gothic-inspired structure, with tower entrances and vestibules leading inside, will contain two dozen integrated classrooms and teaching/research laboratories, faculty offices, conference rooms and student commons areas. J. Newton Rayzor Hall will cost an estimated $14 million, including a $1.4 million endowment for the future maintenance of the facility.
The university is also planning to construct a new building for the school’s mechanical and petroleum engineering departments. Stephenson Hall, which will be located south of Keplinger Hall and east of Rayzor Hall, will cover an area of 38,600 square feet in two stories. Estimated to cost around $16.1 million, including a $1.6 million maintenance endowment, it will house 16 large classrooms and research laboratories, one conference room, a student organizations office, and four student commons areas.
The new buildings will free up some of the space in Keplinger Hall that is being currently occupied by the computer science and electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering departments.
Both the structures are being funded by large donations, with Evelyn Rayzor Nienhuis and Charles and Peggy Stephenson making the primary donations for the construction of the two buildings.
