UNA officials recently reported to the board of trustees that estimates for the new science and technology building are over the original expected budget.

The science and technology building to be located on Pine Street is expected to cost $41 million, according to current estimates given to UNA administrators.

One of the original estimates to build the science building came in around $35 million to complete. The current estimate for the building will cost $251 per square foot.

The administration and board of trustees have given their full commitment to build the science building, said UNA president Bill Cale. Cale said he has instructed the architects to continue working on the project.

“It is important to know that there is not a fixed budget for this project,” Cale said via e-mail. “We have a significant amount of money in reserve for this project, and the cost estimate gives us a sense of how much additional funding will be needed to complete the project.”

During the September board of trustees meeting, questions were raised about where would the additional funding needed to complete the building come from.

“There are several avenues of potential support open to us and we are looking at all of them,” Cale said. “One is federal grant support, another is private giving, a third is to acquire additional funds through borrowing.”

UNA is working with EXP Inc., a company helping architects and UNA administrators design the building.

“We are working with experts in the design of scientific buildings and laboratories and we will not take any actions that compromise the quality and integrity of this building,” Cale said. “Our aim is to build what we presently need and what will serve us in the future, and to identify the necessary resources to accomplish that.”

After EXP Inc. came in and looked at the plan, the technology and building design changed slightly, increasing the cost of the building a small amount, according to Mike Gautney, director of facilities administration and planning at UNA.

Dr. Brenda Webb, chair of the Department of Physics and Earth Science, said she is excited to teach and work in a building that was designed to be student friendly.

“I’m particularly excited about the spaces, classrooms and laboratories that will be inviting to students,” she said.

The learning environment in the building will be greatly enhanced compared to the current science labs in Floyd Hall, she said. Webb said although a great deal of learning is going on in Floyd Hall, the new building will enhance learning and boost moral of both students and faculty working in the building.

“The learning environment is going to be really conducive to interactions between faculty and students because of additional space and attractiveness,” she said. “The facilities will allow us to move into the future.”