When students return to the University of Wisconsin-Superior this fall, they will be greeted to a series of renovations to Barstow Hall.

“The Barstow Lab Renovation Project will provide much needed upgrades to five teaching labs,” said Dustin Johnson, physical plant director. “The renovation will include new flooring, cabinetry, seating, counter tops, plumbing fixtures, lighting and technology in each room.”

The project, funded through the UW System Instructional Space Projects Program, will bring a series of updates to the primary science building on campus.

“The intention of the project is to provide upgrades that will increase the utilization, functionality, safety and comfort while providing a more enjoyable environment to learn and teach,” said Johnson.

The first phase of lab updates will be completed mid-August. Among them will be a transformation of Barstow Hall, Room 107, which will be converted from a geology lab to an environmental science lab, that will include computer stations, configurable furniture and interactive technology.

“Planning occurred over several meetings between faculty who teach in the rooms and the architects,” said Andy Breckenridge, Natural Sciences Department professor. “The goal for Barstow 107 is to create a multi-use space, which will primarily be utilized by environmental science and university studies lab courses.”

Barstow 107 was designed to be a flexible space to accommodate lectures, small group work in labs and a computer lab. This versatility allows the space to be reconfigured to readily adapt to different teaching and learning activities, such as hands-on experiments, group discussions or computer-based projects.

“The dynamic and modern learning environment will cater to diverse learning styles, integrate technology into the learning process, more readily enable hands-on experiential learning experiences and facilitate collaborative learning,” said Breckenridge.

The final updates to Barstow Hall labs will be completed for Fall Semester of 2024.