NEOUCOM gets money for lab fix-up

KSU also is getting some state money for improvements.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine is getting more than 1 million to refurbish a multidisciplines' laboratory space.
Without comment, the State Controlling Board approved Monday releasing 1,107,794 to the Rootstown-based NEOUCOM for the project.
State documents say the current labs were built in 1976 and have remained the same since their initial construction.
The lab space is being used for classes that require multiple types of media at one time (slides, microscopes and computers) and also is used as study space, state documents say.
There are six larger and two smaller labs, each of which can accommodate up to 20 students depending on the activity.
Refurbishment of the labs will help provide teaching, study and break-out spaces for as many as 460 medical and 400 pharmacy students, officials say in state documents.
Heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical systems will also be updated. Youngstown State University is part of NEOUCOM
KSU project
In other business, the board approved releasing 74,200 to Kent State University for the basic renovations in a building envelope assessment project.
The panel also approved contracting with Chambers, Murphy and Burge of Akron to provide professional assessment services on the project.
The university is hiring the firm to document and look into exterior envelope conditions at Williams and Smith halls. The firm also is to determine probable causes of defects and establish priorities for remedial work, state documents say.
Made up of six state lawmakers and a representative of the governor's office, the board has the final say over some of the state's larger spending projects.