Carver Hall renovations are nearing completion, and programs from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are moving into the space, providing larger offices than their previous locations around campus.

The $2 million renovation of Carver Hall started after the College of Business moved into the Gerdin Business Building in December 2003. The move freed approximately 24,000 square feet that can be used for other programs.

“This was a big job, and it’s gone smoothly,” said Doug Epperson, associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Renovations are on schedule and are expected to be complete by October, said Tom Oftedal, project manager and facilities planning and management architect.

“The majority of the work is finished in Carver,” Epperson said. “At this point in time, almost everyone is moved in — meaning they have all their stuff there.”

Programs in Carver Hall should be functionally operational by September, he said.

The renovations include painting and re-carpeting all four floors, along with the creation of new offices, a new computer lab and upgrades to two classrooms and the corridors.

“They are updating the corridors to make them brighter, installing new fire alarm systems and putting in new doors,” Epperson said.

Several programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have moved from locations scattered across campus to Carver Hall because there is more space available.

“We’re always looking for space in the LAS College,” Epperson said. “When no space is freed up, we just move people around.”

The new Center for American Intercultural Studies is located on the second floor, along with the Program for Women in Science and Engineering. WISE previously had offices located in Pearson Hall and Laboratory of Mechanics.

“It’s nice to have an office all together,” said Stephanie Hamilton, outreach coordinator for WISE. “We’re more aware of each other’s programs.”

The space in Catt Hall, previously occupied by the Ethnic Studies programs, will be used to expand the Advising, Career Planning and Placement Services unit for LAS. The space in the Laboratory of Mechanics previously occupied by WISE is planned to be allocated to the ISU Research Foundation for their Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer.

The LAS Center for On-Line Learning, previously housed in Science II, has a new office located in the basement. Biological sciences will occupy the center’s old space.

“We have been trying to put the biological sciences in a central location for years,” Epperson said.

The Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities and the Institute of Science and Society have new offices located on the first floor.

Epperson said the institute had no previous space, making the move critical to it.

The Math Department still occupies the fourth floor, but acquired additional office space and moved the main department office to the third floor, he said.

Also occupying the third floor are the Office of Pre-Collegiate Programs for the Talented and Gifted, the Department of Psychology and the English Department. The space is planned to be occupied by the Theater Department and the Department of Foreign Language and Literature.