Polytechnic building puts luster on industrial technology

By Jim Obert

Business Today

Southeast Missouri State University's new $8.8 million Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building recently opened in time for fall classes. And wide windows are everywhere -- in traipsing hallways and in second- and third-story classrooms and offices where they offer views of robotics and other industrial technology labs.

A bowed skylight stretches across the top of the three-story, 60,000-square-foot structure.

Sunlight splashes the spacious hallways, classrooms and labs in acute contrast to the previous home of the School of Polytechnic Studies: the dark and cluttered Serena Building.

"We have a lot of external light coming in and that gives a sense of collectiveness between rooms," said Dr. Randy Shaw, dean of the School of Polytechnic Studies. "Students can see other students working in the labs."

The Seabaugh Polytechnic Building is on the northeast campus adjacent to the science quadrangle. Construction began in spring 2000.

The architecture is impelling and so is the new industrial equipment. That's significant for students who are training for jobs in industries that depend on high-tech, computerized machines in their factories.

"Everything we do is computer-based and computer-driven," said Shaw, adding that federal and state funding provided the latest in computers, robotics, work stations for animation, high-tech graphics and automated manufacturing.

The federal government provided $1 million to help outfit the building, which is named for the Seabaughs. The Cape Girardeau couple donated more than $1 million toward the project.

The new building has 12 industrial technology labs. The second and third floors harbor faculty offices, computer labs, high-tech classrooms and an interactive television classroom that allows for the delivery of courses to off-campus sites in Kennett, Malden, Sikeston, Perryville and St. Louis.

The two-story Greek Dining Hall has been integrated into one end of the new building.

Even though the building just opened, construction work is expected to start this month on a 6,000-square-foot addition to house an industrial training center. The $921,000 addition will provide custom training of workers for manufacturing companies, said Shaw. The addition is slated to be completed by next spring.

School officials say the building mirrors the growing importance of a technical education in today's high-tech manufacturing world.

Shaw said he has seen rising student interest in industrial technology. Over the past 13 years, the number of students seeking industrial technology degrees has doubled to 450.

Southeast's new School of Polytechnic Studies also includes the university's department of agriculture. Combined, the department of industrial and engineering technology and the department of agriculture have more than 600 majors.

While agriculture faculty will continue to be housed in another building, many of the classes will be taught in the polytechnic building.