Students on the Newman University campus walked around a detour marked with yellow caution tape as a landscape crew removed trees between the Heimerman Science Center and Eck Hall on Wednesday, March 30.
The tree removal is necessary to make space for the upcoming construction of the Bishop Gerber Science Center. While all the trees will be sadly missed, some trees are memorial trees that are significant for family members and/or members of the Newman community. Newman will replace these trees at a later time, retaining the memorial signs for each tree. More trees also will be planted around the new structure when the construction project is near completion.
Andy Miller of A&M Tree Service explained that the timing of the tree removal was difficult to orchestrate. “It is important to the ecology of the surrounding area that we remove these trees now rather than later in the spring because bats will soon migrate to the area to nest,” said Miller.
The two story Bishop Gerber Science Center building will replace the currently standing Heimerman Science Center and will be connected to Eck Hall. The building will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories to enhance the learning environment of students studying in the science, nursing and health sciences fields.
Facing Forward – A Campaign for Newman University is asking for financial contributions to meet the goal of $24.5 million for the building and renovations to Eck Hall, and a total goal of $30 million. For more information on Facing Forward, visit http://newmanff.com.
