Only now is it finally starting to look like a structure with some purpose. What you are seeing is the beginning of the new Engineering Building. The building is a welcome addition to the SIUE campus because of the rising number of students enrolled in engineering programs. In 1968 there were only two programs available in the School of Engineering and only 30 students. Now there are seven undergraduate programs and four graduate programs, with a student body of 750.
Officials expect to add more engineering programs.
The idea of adding an engineering building has been floating around administrative offices for nearly 10 years. Work on designs and preparing bidding specifications as well as actually selecting the contractor took more than 18 months. The design was finalized in March. Construction began in June and the building is scheduled to be finished by spring 2000 with classes being held there in the fall of that year. This price tag includes equipment, construction, labor and fees.