In a preliminary report, the consultants show a small surplus in classroom space at Carolina, although faculty quickly point out that some classrooms are more fit than others. In every other category teaching labs, offices, study facilities, and research labs the university lags behind national space norms. Carolina posts a one million square foot total space deficit, two-thirds of the UNC system's total space deficit. One building that may be razed to make room for more science lab space is Venable Hall, home to chemistry, marine sciences, applied material sciences, and the Electronic Office Service Center. Spanning more than a football field in length and width, the building only houses one floor of available lab space.
Clegg also chairs the oversight committee for a new science complex.
He says science faculty recommended tearing down Venable Hall and replacing it with a two-towered building. The new building would include shared lab space, classrooms, faculty offices, even a research library for the physical sciences. In the spirit of shared learning, faculty asked for more common meeting space, something Clegg says he hears people ask for over and over again. The faculty was unanimous that instruction and training in Academic and Health Affairs should remain together on the central campus. We find that problems do often require multiple skills with many different people at the table.