Many College faculty have now moved into Caudill and Chapman Halls, the first two buildings completed as part of the Carolina Physical Science Complex. Partially funded by $22 million raised through the Carolina First campaign and $84 million from a higher education bond referendum approved by N.C. voters, the $205 million complex is the largest construction project in the University's history. Alumnus Lowry Caudill, '79, who made a lead gift, led the fund-raising efforts.
"This has been a labor of love for me," said Caudill. "When I'm talking to people about this, it is from the heart. It's not only to educate the students - we also need it for the future of North Carolina," he said.
"We have all sorts of research technologies within UNC, and to take that and transfer that into the private sector, to allow companies to be created, jobs to be created, for North Carolina is a wonderful thing," Caudill said.
The W. Lowry and Susan S. Caudill Laboratories - the last of two buildings to open in phase one of the Carolina Physical Science Complex and the last building ever to be constructed on Polk Place - was officially dedicated April 26, 2007. The complex's Royce Murray Quadrangle honors the longtime Carolina chemistry professor who was Caudill's mentor. The brick plaza outside Caudill Labs is named for William F. Little, former chemistry department chair and Research Triangle Park co-founder.
With approximately 120,000 square feet, Caudill Laboratories provides substantial research laboratory and office space for the nation's number one program in analytical chemistry and the top 15 overall department of chemistry (according to U.S. News & World Report) - adding to existing space in the Kenan Laboratories (1971) and Morehead Laboratories (1985). The four-story building houses 52,000 square feet of chemistry research laboratories, 7,000 square feet of faculty offices and conference space, and 2,000 square feet of open student space.
Venable Hall, home to the chemistry department since 1925, was demolished in late 2007 and early 2008 and two new buildings are under construction in its place. New Venable and a building yet to be named will house the chemistry library, classrooms, lecture halls, conference rooms and the marine sciences department.
Reprinted with special permission from Carolina Arts & Sciences Magazine, Spring '08 issue. Please download your copy to read more about our alumni, faculty and facilities.
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