Facilities & Instrumentation

The Vermeer Science Center recently went through a $20-million renovation and expansion that was completed in fall 2003. In addition to biology, chemistry, physics and natural science departments, the mathematics and computer science departments are located in Vermeer. The building contains 13 high-tech classrooms. Each contains a ceiling-mounted projector, computer with flat panel monitor, Wolfvision document camera, combination VCR/DVD player and a Ken-a-vision flex camera. Vermeer also contains several computer labs with new Dell computers with flat panel monitors and the most recent versions of math and science computer programs. Numerous science laboratories with state-of-the-art science equipment allow students to conduct their own research. Just inside the main entrance is an easy-to-use touchscreen kiosk with a building directory that can be searched by room or professor’s name. Central was awarded a silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) medal rating from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), making the science center the first LEED-rated building in the state. The chemistry department maintains state-of-the-art instrument research equipment including:

  • 300 MHz Bruker NMR
  • Spectrum Rx Perkin Elmer ATR-FTIR Spectrometer
  • HP 6890 GC with an HP 5973 quadrapole mass selective detector
  • HPLC series 1100 with UV-Vis detector
  • Two HP 6890 gas chromatographs with TCD
  • Cary Eclipse Fluorescence Spectrophotometer with phosphorescence and solid surface capacity and a well plate reader
  • Hitachi F-3010 Fluorescence Spectrophotometer with phosphorescence attachment
  • Cary 50 UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
  • HP 8453 UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
  • PAR 263 potentiostat/galvanostat
  • Nikon fluorescence microscope
  • Perkin Elmer 3110 atomic absorption spectrometer