Bilkent students will enjoy the benefits of less crowded classrooms and larger, centrally located state-of-the-art computer laboratories when a major construction project is finished this summer.
The concrete pillars and metal rods rising from the construction site between the Science Faculty building and the Library don't look like much now, but by the start of next school year a new building at the site will house 28 classrooms, 12 computer laboratories, the Bilkent Computer Center, some faculty offices, and a small cafe. The classrooms will be used by all departments on an as-needed basis.
"This new building is significant because it will provide badly needed classroom space, improve the quality and capacity of the computer labs available to students and give the Bilkent Computer Center more room," said Provost Prof. Abdullah Atalar.
Construction of the 7,500 square meter, five-floor building (including the basement and ground floors) began in late August. According to Ramiz Akgün, manager of Bilkent's Head Office of Construction Works and Technical Department, construction will be complete next summer in time for the Computer Center to move and settle in before the school year starts.
The site was chosen because "this is the heart of the campus, making it easier to serve all students and academic staff," Akgün said. An additional convenience will be the building's two entryways. The main entrance will be just off the main pedestrian walkway through Main Campus. This entryway will face a walkway between the new building and the Science Faculty building. The walkway will lead to the current parking area, where there will be a second entrance to the new building.
The building's architects are Erkut Şahinbaş and M. İzzet Fikirlier, who are often employed on Bilkent projects. They included in the facade of the new building a semi-circular corner facing and reflecting the design of the library. Tepe Construction Co. is building the structure.
