The University of Arizona’s School of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) will move from its 30-year location behind Cochise College to a new building in Sierra Vista’s West End.
CAST Dean Dr. Gary Packard said the current campus was built for a different purpose.
“It was basically built as a night school for adult learners to go after work, get a community college degree, or associate degree, and go on to get a degree at the University of Arizona,” Packard said. told to “Today, when you walk around our campus, you won’t see any more students or faculty walking around our campus because we are an online campus.”
The current campus is behind Cochise University and does not have a direct access point, Packard said. We’re hiding in a corner here. And wanted to pull us out more into the city center. ”
Packard said the new building, located in Sierra Vista’s West End, would better serve the university’s needs as a technology lab.
“We’re working with architects to redesign the building to create a modern, futuristic science and technology laboratory, which is basically a building,” Packard said. “There are some classrooms there because there are still face-to-face classes that you would like to take. Elements include: 1, 3,000 sq ft of event space with a 16 ft x 19 ft video wall as the centerpiece.…
Across the hall from there is the home of the Cyber Convergence Center, the university’s research center,” Packard continued.
The purchase price for the new 24,000-square-foot building was about $3 million. The University of Arizona Foundation will purchase the property, and CAST will lease it from the foundation for five years, Packard said. After five years, the building and grounds become the property of the university.
Professor Packard said the foundation would act as a lender and the university would repay the loan with its proceeds. He said the cost of refurbishment is estimated to cost an additional $2 million to $4 million, which will come from CAST’s earnings. The entire project, including construction and renovations, should cost less than $10 million, Packard said.
As Packard weighed his options, he said it would be more affordable to buy a new building than to add to the current campus.
Packard said he hopes to complete the move and renovation by fall 2024 or spring 2025.
But there are some unknowns at this early stage of the move. Packard said the move will move all administrative offices in Growth Hall, owned by the University South Foundation, to the new campus.
But still hanging in the air is the fate of Discovery Gardens and Paterson Observatory.
“We don’t know the answer yet,” says Packard. “We would like to keep this facility for educational purposes here in Cochise County. don’t know yet.”
Also undecided is what will happen to the four acres north of the university-owned campus. This includes the buildings that CAST resides in: ATB-A’s building (faculty office building) ATB-B (learning resource center) and his ATB-C (where the cyber operations program now resides).
“We don’t know yet,” said Packard. “Given the initial conversations I have had so far, leasing or selling are probably the most likely options for them. I will try to find the best purpose that will benefit the residents of
Three other buildings on the south side of the campus are owned by the University of Arizona South Foundation.
The Cooperative Extension Office and Growth Hall are owned by the University South Foundation, from which the University of Arizona leases two spaces. Packard said the Paterson Observatory is also owned by the University of Arizona Foundation and is not the property of the university.
