Mount St. Mary’s University formally introduces its expanded Coad Science Building to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Construction of the $10.75 million, 21,000-square-foot addition began in May 2023.
Phase I of this three-phase expansion and renovation project includes two new state-of-the-art neuroscience and computational teaching laboratories, dedicated neuroscience and microscopy research laboratories, and collaborative spaces for community gathering. The neuroscience microscopy room establishes the Mount as home to an advanced confocal microscope facility that is the first in the region and will be shared with two nearby colleges. The spinning disc confocal microscope with a live-cell imaging module and a photobleaching system was funded by a $626,218 National Science Foundation grant.
“Coad’s expansion provides a state-of-the-art learning environment for our highly regarded and rapidly growing STEM programs, enabling programmatic expansion consistent with STEM profession demands, and helping the university continue to attract and retain outstanding faculty and students,” said President Jerry Joyce, Ph.D.
With the opening of the new wing, the Mount announces a change in the name of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics to the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology. The name change signals a new era for Mount STEM programming, highlighting strengths in natural, behavioral, and computational sciences, as well as technology and mathematics.
Built in 1964, Coad is a three-story 50,100 square foot building that had outgrown the existing space and required updates to position the university’s programs for continued growth and excellence in graduating STEM professionals ready to meet the workforce needs of employers. The new classroom and lab spaces are technology-rich, multi-use, flexible and configurable for a variety of instructional formats and class sizes.
“Our facilities now will further challenge the capabilities of our students,” said Christine McCauslin, Ph.D., dean of the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology. “We are building our trajectory of success and gaining recognition as a leading STEM educator whose graduates are highly sought after and prepared to make a positive impact on the world.”
Over the last five years, the number of students majoring in programs within the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology has risen by 40 percent. During this same period, the School and its faculty have been awarded major grants totaling more than $9 million, and the School’s students have been recognized with prestigious fellowships.
Since 2018, eight Mount students, including current seniors Jake Cuzick and Lincoln Queale, have received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate award for students intending to pursue research careers in the fields of natural science, mathematics and engineering. Students have also been granted Fulbright Study/Research awards and a Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship. Students who exhibit promising research ability participate in the Mount’s Summer Research Internship Award program on campus. These students go on to secure highly competitive internship and graduate appointments at major research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech and others.
Looking toward the future, the second phase of the expansion project will complete the build-out of the expansion wing with additional teaching laboratories, the Delaplaine Academic Commons and dedicated experiential research spaces. The third phase will involve the renovation of the existing space in the Coad Science Building.
The Coad expansion and renovation project is being funded by donations to the Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Campaign, $4 million in National Institute of Standards and Technology workforce development funds, and a $2 million grant from the State of Maryland, in conjunction with donations made in support of the project through the Forward! Together as One Campaign. A lead donation from George B. Delaplaine, Jr. will provide the collaborative space, to be called the Delaplaine Academic Commons.
Representative David Trone and Senator Chris Van Hollen championed the federal funding from NIST. “Providing every Marylander an opportunity to succeed, especially in high-skill, sought-after trades like STEM, is a win-win for all of us. Not only will these programs help develop our country’s future leaders, but they will also create and fill jobs down the line in our state,” said Congressman Trone. “As a Member of Congress, it is my mission to work with local leaders, listen to communities, and deliver results. I’m honored to have provided this federal funding to Mount St. Mary’s University.”
Stantec Architecture, based in Butler, Pennsylvania, designed the expansion plan. Construction is being managed by JEM Group, LLC, based in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
