Enhancement of UConn's 'workhorse' is a signature element of the Next Generation Connecticut initiative
Architectural view of the Gant Complex on Sept. 11, 2024. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
The multi-year project to overhaul and expand one of UConn's largest, most visible, and most heavily used academic buildings will soon enter its final stretch with the start of the last phase of renovations.
The Gant Science Complex, often described colloquially as the workhorse of UConn's academic infrastructure at Storrs, has undergone extensive renovations that started in 2018 and have significantly transformed much of the once-outdated structure.
If all remains on schedule, work is slated to begin this summer on the final phase of renovations at the complex, which fronts North Eagleville and Auditorium Roads.
Completion of the project will mark a milestone for UConn, which received funding for the work under the state's Next Generation Connecticut initiative.
That visionary program is part of the larger UConn 2000 initiative, which has built the state's innovation economy through investments in its flagship university, as supported by generations of Connecticut legislators and governors since the mid-1990s.
NextGenCT included construction of UConn's Science 1 building in addition to the Gant renovations. Science 1 opened nearby in 2023, complementing Gant as interdisciplinary research facilities that anchor the university's Northwest Science District.
Both buildings support goals in the 10-year Strategic Plan, including expanding UConn's research impact, powering a thriving Connecticut, and promoting holistic student success.
"The hallmarks of a great university are not only the research and academic knowledge it produces, but also its commitment to providing the modern labs, learning spaces, and support facilities that cultivate that important work," says Anne D'Alleva, UConn's provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
"We often jokingly refer to the Gant Science Complex as the workhorse of our Storrs campus because so much of the hands-on research, teaching, and collaborative learning takes place there on a daily basis," she says. "The renovations of this important complex will be integral to UConn's ability to reach new heights and power the Connecticut innovation economy."
The U-shaped Gant Science Complex houses several academic departments and their associated classrooms, lecture halls, teaching and research laboratories, faculty offices, and support space.
It was built between 1970 and 1974 and is named for the late Edward V. Gant, a longtime engineering professor who also served three stints as UConn's acting president. He died in 1985.
The science complex that bears his name had about 285,000 gross square feet of space at the start of the renovation, with the current project adding about 25,000 additional square feet upon completion.
The first phase of renovations, which involved Gant South, was completed in 2019, followed by a two-year renovation period at Gant West. In both cases, the full wings were overhauled along with the connector between the wings and the central plaza.
A central Light Court area, a new signature feature of the complex, was completed and occupied in January 2020.
The phased approach has allowed UConn to continue using large portions of the complex even when other areas were under construction, minimizing disruption to academic operations and eliminating the need for temporary facilities.
Construction on the last phase will start this summer if all remains on schedule with bidding, timely availability of equipment, and other factors.
The third and final phase of work at Gant will involve renovating and expanding the North Wing and its connector to the West Wing and includes a fourth-floor addition for advanced research.
The renovated North Wing will offer updated laboratory teaching facilities and support spaces for the Department of Ecology & Environmental Biology, as well as multidisciplinary science teaching labs and teaching labs for Biology 1000 level courses on the ground through second floors.
Support spaces include a new advising and tutoring center for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and a new facility for biology central storage. The third and fourth floors will be prepared for future advanced research activities.
UConn's Board of Trustees recently gave its approval to begin working toward the final phase, which would start with demolition and abatement, site work, and purchasing equipment with long lead times for delivery.
In addition to the interior renovations, the building's façade and roof are being reconstructed to better prevent leaks and save energy, while the outdoor plaza area is being improved to be more inviting and accessible to the campus community.
If all remains on schedule, the renovated North Wing will open during the 2027-28 academic year.
The project also aligns with UConn's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, meeting Connecticut High Performance Building standards and aiming for LEED Gold certification.
LEED-certified buildings are designed with methods to reduce operating costs, conserve energy and water, cut down on waste sent to landfills, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure a healthy working environment for occupants. The U.S. Green Building Council confers the certification after a review process.
