For more than a decade, administrators at Sacramento State have known that the campus will need updated classrooms, lab space and research facilities to replace the aging science department.

As a result of funding allocated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from the 2008-09 California State budget, this need is now being addressed. The governor has granted $4.8 million for the plan and design of two new facilities: the Science II building and the Space and Science Center.

“It took a real university effort to make this project happen,” said Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction Services Victor Takahashi. “Getting the funding was a real struggle. It took the efforts of Government Affairs, Administration and Business affairs, Financial Services and many others to find the money and lobby the government.”

Because the Space and Science Center is tied to the California State University, funding to operate the center is guaranteed, said Ron Richardson, associate vice president for Facilities Services.

“We occupy a different niche. There has been no talk of charging an admission price to the Sac State center. We are here to teach, and the Space and Science Center is an excellent tool for teaching,” he said.

The proposed site of the facilities is east of Santa Clara Hall and southwest of Guy West Bridge. Richardson said this is part of a long-term goal to open up the center of the campus.

“CSU is very good about getting the funding for construction once the funding for design and planning is in place. Once the funding has come through for the design, they will move on it,” he said.

Construction of the science facilities will begin 2009 or later. Once begun, the process could take as long as one year to complete.

With nearly $7 million raised for design, Sac State administrators can now work toward getting public support for the project, including the issuance of bonds to fund construction. The final cost of the project is estimated at $97 million. The remaining $90 million needs to be raised through bond measures. The public may see the first bond measures for funding construction on the November ballot.

Provided that funding is approved for construction by the voters, the project will be erected in two phases.

Phase one, the approximately 15,000-square-foot facility housing the planetarium and more than 200 classrooms, will take about one year to build. Funding for construction will need to be voted for in the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Phase two, the larger project, will consist of an approximate 119,000-square-foot building that will house the chemistry, biology, mathematics and statistics departments. It will also include new laboratories.

Bonds will need to be approved in 2009-10 for the second phase of construction.

Voter decisions for bonds are rarely certain and with the current economic situation, starting construction could be delayed if voters reject the bond measures to fund construction.

If funding comes on time, the completed Space and Science Center could be ready for occupancy in 2013.

The first phase of the project, expected to be completed in 2011, will open to students while construction of the second phase is underway.

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dean Jill Trainer said she is excited about the new facilities.

“We are very pleased that not only will our Space and Science Center become a reality, but that we will gain state-of-the-art science facilities for Sacramento State students,” she said. “It will provide a great way to inspire a love of science in the children of the region and help the university provide top-quality opportunities for students pursuing careers in science and technology.”

President Alexander Gonzalez was also optimistic about the project.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our campus and for the community,” he said.

Along with funding from the state, $1.5 million came from the federal government, and nearly $500,000 has been given by private donation.

“The funds (for the Science Center) come from the 1988 General Obligation to Higher Education Bonds,” said H. D. Palmer of the Governor’s Office Financial Services.

General obligation bonds are loans that are repaid through state taxes. These funds are distributed by the state for projects for better higher education.

A competitive bidding process will begin in the spring to find an architect to draft and design the new buildings.

The science project originally began as two separate ideas. A new science building and a Space and Science Center were both being planned. Several years ago, the decision to merge the two projects was made, and this became instrumental in gaining funding and support.

Sac State was in competition with 22 other CSU campuses for funding of various projects and merging these two projects, along with the hard work of many people on and off campus, produced a project that was able to gain state support. This led to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s funding proposal.

Derek Fleming can be contacted at [email protected]