When One Door Closes: Computer Science Department to take over Architecture Building

As the Southern University Architecture Department’s time on campus comes to an end, the Computer Science Department seizes its chance to increase enrollment, showcase it’s program and better students that are currently majoring in the subject. After deciding to discontinue the architecture major, the building will now be used for other purposes. The Architecture building itself recently underwent a 700,000-dollar renovation, replacing the glass windows with energy efficient and reflective glass.
“This was a window-wall project,” said System Director of Facilities Planning Endas Vincent. The renovation also included installing an air-conditioning system and minor interior work.
The Computer Science Department, currently located on the first floor of T.T. Allain Hall, will relocate to the Architecture building some time in 2016, after the last of the students majoring in the architecture field have graduated. Currently, the department has six laboratories and two research labs, utilized by undergraduate and graduate students alike, for research, presentations and class work.
Chairman and professor in the Computer Science Department, Ebrahim Khosravi, said this move is not just for a change of scenery.
“In the state of Louisiana, computer science is number one in job development, and in the last semester, we placed 100 percent of our graduates in jobs,” said Khosravi. “Also, a lot of IT companies are moving to Louisiana, so we need to showcase our programs like other schools, such as Louisiana State University and University of New Orleans are showcasing theirs.” finished Khosravi.
Joshua Williams, a junior civil engineering major from New Orleans was an undergraduate who was forced to change his major after the architecture program was cancelled, said the building should still be in use.
“I think they should use the building to house another major with a lot of students,” said Williams. “I don’t mind letting the computer science majors use the building, as long as it doesn’t just sit for a year or two rotting and become an eyesore,”
finished Williams.
As of the 2013-2014 school year, there are 173 enrolled undergraduates in the Computer Sciences Bachelor Degree program, and 95 graduates for the Computer Science Masters Degree programs.
The Architecture Building turned Computer Science will be named after pioneers in Computer Science that made the department what it is today.