The School of Engineering and Computer Science at Oakland University is scheduled to begin construction on a new engineering facility this coming fall semester.

The estimated cost of the project is projected to be $75 million and is designed to accommodate a growing engineering population and related student organizations on campus. Construction is projected to last two years with a completion date anticipated in 2014.

“It’s extremely important for us to focus on the students,” Lorenzo Smith, SECS associate dean of engineering and computer sciences, said. “And even if we forget about our research needs, we need to be building, if for no other reason, for the sake of the students.”

The building will be built to the east of Kresge Library and Dodge Hall. It will take over a portion of  parking lot 36.

According to Smith, Dodge Hall is too small to meet the department’s needs and  the teaching labs are not large enough or properly equipped.

The building itself will have a courtyard where engineering related student organizations, such as the Society of Automotive Engineers can work on their projects and get together. The building will also feature a 200-seat lecture hall, wider hallways, classrooms and more office space for faculty.

Enrollment in the engineering program rose 10 percent in the last five years and is one of the factors in the decision to begin construction on the new building. The recent rebirth of the auto industry in the area has helped enrollment to increase significantly.

“This building was designed to accommodate an increase in enrollment,” Smith said. “And when we get to the point where we’re bursting at the seams, well, that’s a good problem to have and we’ll worry about it when the time comes.”

“In a couple months will be the ceremonial groundbreaking and at the end of summer, fall 2012 will be the actual groundbreaking,” Smith said.

Mike Laba, a junior majoring in engineering, sees the new building as a benefit to current and future engineering students at OU.

“A new building would be useful and open more opportunities for classes to stay on campus and not have to rely on OU’s satellite office at center campus at Macomb University Center for overflow,” Laba said.

Laba transferred to OU in fall 2011 from Western Michigan University due to OU’s reputation in engineering education.

“Oakland professors are passionate about their teaching,” he said.

Senior mechanical engineering major, Jorge Sugrañes, shares similar feelings towards the engineering classes at OU.

“From the classes I am taking right now, the biggest has around 26 students and the smallest around 17 students,” Sugrañes said. “I prefer smaller classes because of that same reason. The professors interact better with the students, making the hard material easier to understand.”

He feels that a new building may cause an issue primarily with parking.

“Maybe making a complete new building wouldn’t be the best idea, but adding an extension to the one we have right now would be better,” Sugrañes said.

—-Contact staff reporter Damien Dennis via email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @djdennisOU