CEDAR FALLS -- For two years, students, faculty and visitors to the University of Northern Iowa campus have watched the construction of a new state-of-the-art addition to the McCollum Science Hall.

They've seen the semi-circular brick addition progress from the original, muddy hole in the ground, to the present, virtually finished state. The building houses the university's biology and chemistry departments.

On Friday, sitting on chairs placed on the freshly laid sod outside the building, nearly 200 people attended the dedication of the new addition. Speakers on hand included Clifford McCollum, for whom the original building was named.

McCollum, 84, joined the UNI faculty in 1949 and later became dean of the College of Natural Sciences. The original building was constructed in 1968 and was officially named for McCollum in 1984 upon his retirement.

"I'm proud of the association I've had with UNI and this building, but especially with the faculty, staff and students of UNI," McCollum said. "You will use this new facility and make it glow."

The 64,000-square-foot addition houses eight new faculty/student research laboratories, five new teaching labs, three lecture halls, and 17 new faculty offices. The plaza area outside offers a traffic turnaround so people can be dropped off in front of the building.

Ann Schwemm, of Tripoli, learned about the renovations during her freshman year. Now a junior, she's able to enjoy the newer surroundings.

"It's nice to have the opportunity to use new equipment; it's a great opportunity for students just starting out in the program," she said.

Barbara Hetrick, head of the biology department, has waited in anticipation for the new addition.

"We have been crowded," she said. "We utilized every nook and cranny; sometimes it felt like a restaurant business, trying to seat everybody. Our students should be commended for their perseverance and patience."

The same goes for Paul Rider, interim head of the chemistry department, which he joined in 1969.

"I thought I would be retired before there were any renovations to McCollum Hall," he said. "Happily, I was wrong. Thousands of chemistry and biology students have been trained in this building on their way to success. With the new research and teaching spaces, I promise you we'll just keep getting better. We won't let you down."

The addition was built with $16.9 million is state appropriated money. New equipment is being bought with private donations, including a $1 million contribution from the Roy J. Carver Foundation. The largest lecture hall in the new addition is being named after Carver.

Since McCollum opened in 1968, the number of biology majors has increased by more than 500 percent and chemistry majors by 250 percent. Biology has nearly 600 students, while chemistry has over 120.

The new lecture halls are set up so students can turn around and work within a small group framework. New labs include many built-in spaces where students can conduct experiments in an enclosed area with air controls that suck fumes away, allowing for more flexibility for experiments.

A nearby greenhouse addition will soon be finished. The new addition includes an underground tunnel between McCollum and the greenhouse, allowing students and faculty to bypass the winter weather while handling various plants.

Michelle Montgomery, a senior biology and chemistry double major, said she's excited to see the completion of the addition, but just a little sad it hasn't been available for her entire collegiate experience.

"The new labs and lecture halls are very student-oriented," she said. "That's going to help with the learning process."

UNI has the largest undergraduate biology program in the state and consistently graduates as many students with B.S. or B.A. degrees in chemistry as Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.