Construction of the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology, located on All American Drive at the University of Mississippi, has been completed, and the building will host its first classes this semester.
“The Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled to see it finally become a reality,” Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations for UM, said. “This world-class facility will not only transform the way we teach and learn but also position our university — and Mississippi — at the forefront of STEM educational innovation.”
Construction on the 202,000-square-foot project began in fall 2021 with a budget of $175 million dollars. The university is planning a grand opening later in the fall semester.
The center is the largest academic project in the university’s history. Its website indicates resources in the building such as spectrometers and state-of-the-art microscopes “will prepare students to enter STEM fields that allow them to work on the cutting edge of medicine, computer technology, chemical engineering, robotics and other jobs.”
Recently released photos of the building’s interior have sparked excitement.
“It’s going to be a great place for all of the STEM majors to collaborate and hang out together,” junior biology major Shayla Hanson said. “When I saw the picture of the building this summer, I could not believe all of the different study areas that were going to be available for students to use. Science majors haven’t really had a place to come together and study in one building up until now, but the Duff Center is doing just that.”
Classrooms in the new center are designed with innovation and active learning in mind. The building will host 50 “TEAL” classrooms dedicated to technology-enabled active learning and participation, as opposed to a traditional lecture-style layout.
Other features include a center for success and supplemental instruction, a food provider location and a 3D visualization lab that are meant to make the center one of the top STEM education buildings in the nation.
