Construction at the Ithaca, N.Y., campus is expected to begin next summer and finish by fall 2017, the university reported today. The upgrades are designed to accommodate classes of 120 pre-clinical students compared to the current headcount of 102. "The facility enhancements made as part of this project will enable the college to match the admission size of our veterinary student intake with the capacity of our hospital,” said Michael Kotlikoff, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. "The program will also benefit regional veterinary technician programs, who need greater hands-on opportunities.” Fourth-year students at Cornell now number 120, including 18 from other schools who are completing their clinical training. The overall plan calls for demolishing 68,000 square feet of existing space, replacing it with 65,000 square feet of space and renovating 33,000 square feet. Among the changes: • Construction of a public auditorium, a dining hall closer to the hospital, larger classrooms and two tiered lecture halls. • Renovation of anatomy, tutorial and student surgery areas. • Added meeting and event space, an e-learning center and a central student locker area. James Law Auditorium will be replaced with a three-story structure. The Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library will occupy the first floor. The second floor will contain a modular resource center and the e-learning center, and administrative offices will fill the third floor. The project also will create space for a veterinary conference that draws about 700 veterinarians, students and veterinary technicians annually. Cornell reported that its incoming classes are the smallest among "top-tier veterinary schools.” The veterinary college was named No. 1 in the nation in the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Funding for the project will come from New York State, gifts and other college resources. <HOME>
