By Rebecca Wyatt, OU Web Writer

Workers are putting the finishing touches on renovations that began on South Foundation Hall in early May. The new, state-of-the-art classrooms officially will open during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 31, at 1:30 p.m., the first day of fall semester classes.

South Foundation Hall houses 37 general purpose classrooms, the most of any building on campus, and is utilized by more than 1,800 students during any class period. With funding from Academic Affairs, the Office of the President and Facilities Management, the first floor South Foundation Hall classrooms were renovated and brought up to level III technology.

“These classrooms are our most technologically enhanced general purpose classrooms on campus,” said George Preisinger, assistant vice president of Classroom Support and Instructional Technical Services.

Each room has a video/data projection system, VHS/ DVD combination player, personal computer, interactive display with annotation capability, digital document camera, integrated classroom control system and access to the campus network. Classrooms seating more than 50 students have enhanced sound systems with wireless microphone for faculty.

All of the equipment is networked to Classroom Support and Instructional Technical Services, which can monitor the equipment status and allow for remote control of components, such as turning the equipment on and off.

The classroom furniture was replaced to include new teacher workstations, podiums and student desks, which were designed uniquely for OU.

In addition, the first floor of South Foundation Hall has wireless Internet access in all of the classrooms, the hallway and fishbowl area. Grizzly IDs are required to access any of the GrizzNet wireless networks on campus.

Classroom lighting circuits were reconfigured for multiple lighting options, projection screens now recess into the ceiling for improved visibility, and the walls, doors and ceilings on the first floor and stairs up to the third floor were painted and modernized.

“We are hopeful there will be more renovations to South Foundation Hall in the future to bring the rest of the building up to the level the first floor is at,” said Registrar Steve Shablin.

To mark the renovations, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for South Foundation Hall is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 31, at 1:30 p.m. at the north entrance of the building. OU President Gary Russi and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Virinder Moudgil will make opening remarks, followed by tours of the renovated building and refreshments.

While the renovations to South Foundation Hall make the classrooms the most advanced on campus, 250 Hannah Hall and 364 Science and Engineering Building also have been updated to level III technology over the summer months.

Training is available for faculty and staff on all classroom technology. For more information on training, contact Classroom Support and Instructional Technical Services at (248) 370-2461.