IHL approves new facility for USM-Gulf Coast

LONG BEACH — A $10-million construction project has received approval from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) allowing the University of Southern Mississippi to construct the 36,000-square-foot Science Building on the university’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach.

Housing the university’s College of Science and Technology, the three-story Science Building will feature nine teaching laboratories, research space, approximately 20 faculty offices and the associate dean’s office. The facility will also feature an 80-seat instructional classroom.

Funding for the Science Building was approved by the Legislature in 2004. The project, currently in the planning phase with Allred Architectural Group, will continue the architectural style of the campus’ Fleming Education Center and library. The Science Building, with its adjacent parking lot, will be located in the northwest section of the Gulf Park campus.

Bidding for the construction project will commence in the spring allowing construction to begin this summer. The Science Building is expected to be completed and occupied by early 2012.