New construction detracts from COM building, students say

The new Center for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering at Boston University promises to "bring together life scientists, engineers, and physicians from the Medical and Charles River Campuses" by spring of 2017, but some College of Communication students said they view the project as an "eyesore" and inconvenience.

The new nine-story, 170,000-square-foot project — costing $150 million — will "include neuroscience research (animal & human subjects), systems/synthetic biology research, a satellite vivarium, and a cognitive neuroimaging center," according to the release on BU's website.

The structure, which started undergoing construction in May at 610 Commonwealth Ave., is being built on top of a parking lot next to Morse Auditorium. But construction has expanded into parts of the lawn in front of the COM, and has cut off a main sidewalk entrance to the building, including the entryway to the main stairwell in COM.




Some COM students expressed displeasure with the prominent construction and lack of accessibility, particularly the removal of parts of the "COM Lawn," where students of all schools at BU relax or work when there is nice weather.

"I miss the little park-like thing, the benches, and the tree they took down," said Isis Evens, a second-year advertising graduate student in COM, who also completed her undergraduate degree at BU.

"I think it's a bit of eyesore, because during construction, they have those faux-buildings, and it kind of looks tacky," she added.

Blue window coverings on COM classroom and office windows. (Photo by Sarah Kirkpatrick)

One student said the construction takes away from the visibility of BU's COM program.

"It kind of looks like they're putting down COM a bit, just because they're building something right in front of it," said Dan Behar, a senior studying film and television in COM.

Construction of the new building expands partially in front of the sign on the College of Communication building. (Photo by Sarah Kirkpatrick)

Behar said he enters and exits COM approximately three or four times a day, and frequently relaxes on the COM lawn.

"I just don't like it because it took away so much of the green space that I sit on," he said. "My favorite bench was over there. They took away my favorite bench. It makes it look not as nice. They're gonna block this entire entryway. "

The location of Behar's favorite bench on the COM lawn is now blocked by construction. (Photo by Sarah Kirkpatrick)

However, one student not in COM expressed pleasure with the project. Katherine Ilia, a freshman studying biomedical engineering, said the construction shows promise.

"I like it because there's something new coming," Ilia said. "We pay a lot of money for tuition, and it's getting put to good use. It's something that I'll be able to use, or in the future someone else will be able to use. Because that's what science is about. I contribute something, and then someone else gets to contribute something else."