by Ashleigh Sanchez
Daily Lobo
Castetter Hall's basement is more student-friendly after a two-year, $7 million renovation, the biology department's chairman said.
"It was totally built around students," Eric Loker said. "The objective was to make it feel like something other than a basement."
About 75 people gathered in the building's courtyard Friday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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The facility had not been modified since the 1950s.
The 18,000 square-foot basement used to be occupied by a Southwestern biology museum, labs and several classrooms.
Loker said it should draw more students with its new features, which include five large labs, three lecture halls, an advising complex, space for teaching assistants to meet with students, a conference room and a kitchenette.
"It used to be filled with storage items," he said. "We hope it becomes a very active meeting place for students, where they can sit and study."
Loker said the project was funded by a bond issued in 2005. The bond was funded by increasing student fees $56 per year for a four-year period.
"The students, to our great thanks, are paying for all of this," he said.
Construction began in 2006 with the removal of asbestos materials, and demolition began in January 2007.
Reed Dasenbrock, state secretary of Higher Education and former provost, said the renovation was necessary because UNM's biology department is so big.
"Biology has more majors and funding than any program in the state," he said.
Students Teresa Madrid and Cindy Mathiason helped get the project started by asking administrators for the renovation.
"It's extremely important to have good learning facilities," Madrid said. "It tells students how important it is, and this is really nice."
Student Mariel Tribby toured the basement after the ribbon cutting. Tribby said the renovation is beneficial to students.
"It's nice to see the University spending money on things we can actually use," she said. "It's so much more inviting and will probably help with recruitment, too."
