For the past 11 years, Professor of Biology Darcy Russell has been anxiously anticipating renovations and additions to Mulvane Hall.

The building, at its present state, is not ideal for Baker University’s science department and is in need of an expansion and updates.

“We are so crowded right now,” Russell said. “We have such limited space that the professors are working at minute tasks instead of spending time with students doing the things we would like to do.”

Russell said a renovated building would allow students to have more of a real science experience and also be an environmentally friendly building.

“We want the building to be a really cool, sustainable building that teaches what we are trying to teach in a more realistic way,” Russell said.

As for now, the only updates done to Mulvane are new chairs and tables.

“In order to make the building safe, while we are waiting for donations, we put sprinklers in, which were necessary but painful,” Russell said. “There was drilling going on all the time and alarms going off during the semester.”

The expansion and renovation is approximately a $14 million to $15 million project and is the university’s top priority in terms of buildings, Provost Randy Pembrook said.

“The majority of my classes are in Mulvane,” freshman Bristol Brandt said. “I wish there was a space where I could wait in between classes instead of just waiting on the stairs. I always feel like I am in the way.”

Mulvane is not the only building awaiting funding for renovations, as Denious Hall and Joliffe Hall are vacant.

Last summer, the inside of Denious was gutted and now the university is waiting for more donations and funding to finish the project.

“The end goal is one-stop shopping,” Pembrook said. “We want to have the things in there that would be helpful for prospective students and current students.”

Pembrook said in the next two or three years the renovations should be complete.

"Right now the main focus is on Mulvane because that is what will benefit the students most," Pembrook said.<br/>