An $8-million expansion project to the Oakland Center brokeground last week. By next fall, the two-story expansion projectwill add 30,000 sf, including expanded seating in Pioneer FoodCourt, upgraded kitchen facilities, reception and study loungeareas and a 24-hour "cyber café" with non-stop Internet connection.As part of the second-story addition, there will be a large,7,000-sf multi-purpose room.

Formerly housed in 28,000 sf in O'Dowd Hall, students andfaculty in the school of education and human services experienced atremendous gain in space and amenities when they moved inmid-August into the new, four-story, 132,000-sf education and humanservices building located east of Varner Hall. The buildingofficially opened Friday.

Long located in what once served as chicken coops for MeadowBrook Farm, the nationally accredited Lowry Center occupies thelowest level of the building. Features include six toddler andpre-school classrooms, offices, a kitchen, teacher workroom andreception areas as well as tight security.