Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences will be holding a groundbreaking on Oct. 2 to celebrate the construction of the new Integrated Sciences Building.

The new building will be adjacent to the Student Green. The project also encompasses the renovations of Williams, Cunningham and Smith halls.

“Its been a long time coming,” said James Blank, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “We still have a ways to go. It’s a huge investment to the university.”

The building is expected to have new teaching spaces for the departments of Chemistry, Biology and Physics.  It is also expected to have 12 new research labs, scale up classrooms that are able to seat up to 100 students, new seating areas and a 13,000 square foot unfinished basement that will provide room for future renovations.

According to the Office of University Architect’s website, the project has a budget of $80 million.

The groundbreaking will have refreshments and music, as well as tents that represent the different academic departments. Each tent will have a hands-on experiment that the public will be able to interact with.

The event will also have TV monitors that enable viewers to take a 3-D look at the inside of the new building.

The event is from 2-5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Follow the Periscope account @burrrrley for livestream coverage of the event. 

Keisha Burley is the architecture and environmental design reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].