Construction of the The Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology is located on All American Drive at the University of Mississippi. is completedand the first courses will be held in the building this semester.
““The Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation has been a long time coming, and we are excited to see it finally become a reality,” said Jacob Batte, UM’s director of news and media relations. “This world-class facility will not only transform the way we teach and learn, but it will also put our university – and Mississippi – at the forefront of STEM education innovation.”
Construction work on the 18,500 square meter project began in fall 2021 with a budget of $175 million. The university plans a grand opening later in the fall semester.
The center is the largest academic project in the history of the university. website points to resources in the building, such as spectrometers and state-of-the-art microscopes, “that prepare students to enter STEM fields that enable them to work at the forefront of medicine, computer technology, chemical engineering, robotics and other careers.”
Recently published Photos the interior of the building have caused a stir.
“It will be a great place for all STEM students to collaborate and spend time together,” said Shayla Hanson, a third-year biology major. “When I saw the picture of the building this summer, I couldn’t believe how many different areas of study would be available to students. Science majors have never had a place to come together and learn in one building, but the Duff Center provides just that.”
Classrooms in the new center are designed for innovation and active learning. The building will house 50 “TEAL” classrooms, dedicated to technology-enhanced active learning and participation, as opposed to a traditional lecture style.
Other facilities include a center for success and additional instruction, a catering location and a 3D visualization lab, designed to make the center one of the best STEM education buildings in the country.
