Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

New Jersey City University held a ceremonial groundbreaking today for a $35 million expansion and renovation of its 40-year-old science building, a project that officials hope will prepare the university for an expected 40 percent increase in its science majors by 2018.

Construction on the five-story science building, which will expand by about a third to over 100,000 square feet, is expected to begin in the next year, according to NJCU President Sue Henderson. But Henderson said the university wanted to hold the ceremony today as a thank you to state legislators who made the referendum possible.

The renovated science building will house the university?s physics, biology, chemistry and geosciences students. The current building was built in 1973.

According to Henderson, the new front of the building will contain ?a whole lot of glass,? enough to let passersby see faculty and staff at work in brand-new labs. Henderson said the new labs will allow faculty to conduct "deeper science" for research purposes.

The project is one of a number underway on the university?s campus, located on the city?s West Side. The university is finishing up a new student union, it?s a planning a new residence hall and a new academic building is under design.

Read More