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Let the construction begin! The campus held a groundbreaking ceremony last Thursday (Oct. 31) for the Teaching and Learning Complex, or TLC, which will provide classroom space in the campus core for approximately 2,000 students. The TLC will occupy the Surge IV site — to be cleared of its collection of old portable buildings — and extend into the parking lot between Surge IV and the Silo.

Wielding the shovels in the photo above: from left: Kem Saichaie, associate director, Center for Educational Effectiveness; Carolyn Thomas, vice provost and dean, Undergraduate Education; Kelly Ratliff, vice chancellor, Finance Operations and Administration; Chancellor Gary S. May; Shreya Deshpande, vice president; ASаÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÄÚÄ»ÐÅÏ¢D; Justin Hurst, president, ASаÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÄÚÄ»ÐÅÏ¢D; and Ken Burtis, faculty advisor to the chancellor and provost.

Also pictured, back row, from left: Debra Smith, project manager, Design and Construction Management; Marco Molinaro, assistant vice provost for educational effectiveness, and Matthew Traxler, associate vice provost for academic planning, both of Undergraduate Education; and Jim Carroll, associate vice chancellor and university architect, and Julie Nola, director of capital projects, both with Design and Construction Management.

Smith, the project manager, gave this timeline: Hazardous materials abatement is underway in the Surge IV buildings, and demolition is scheduled for early December. Then will come the foundation work, due for completion in March. Construction of the actual building is scheduled to start in April, with occupancy set for spring of 2022.