New College celebrates $9.7 million science wing

Students appreciate common areas along with new classrooms and laboratories in Heiser Natural Sciences Complex

Before New College of Florida leaders could cut the ribbon on a $9.7 million wing for the Heiser Natural Sciences Complex, Yvenord Mergilles gave them a student perspective.
For him, the common areas of the new building are as important as the classrooms and laboratories.
“You would never catch me in the old Heiser outside my classes,” said Mergilles, a chemistry and biology student in his third year. “Now, I’ve had opportunities offered to me, just being in the building and running into professors who remembered me and said, ‘What are you up to?’ and ‘Would you like to try this?’”
New College President Donal O’Shea welcomed more than 100 students, teachers and visitors to a Thursday evening ceremony. He hailed the extraordinary academic success of science and math majors at the state honors college in Sarasota.