With the addition of 40 new nursing majors this semester, some students may wonder when construction will begin on the new Nursing and Health Sciences Building.

At the Sept. 21 Faculty Senate meeting, Pitt- Johnstown President Jem Spectar announced an update on the building’s construction.

Spectar said that the building plans have been fi – nalized, and administrators are waiting to make the project available for construction companies to bid on.

And at a Sept. 12 Student Government Association meeting, Spectar said that the offi cial groundbreaking would be in about a month to six weeks.

On the other hand, Associate Vice President for Alumni and Community Relations Robert Knipple said that groundbreaking is projected for early 2012.

“We do not yet have the fi nal details for the building, as the project remains in the planning stage,” said Knipple. “We are anticipating a building of approximately 25,000 square feet.”

A football field with end zones is approximately 50,000 square feet. According to an April 12, 2010, Tribune- Democrat editorial, the building is estimated to cost $10 million, with $4 million from state funding.

Spectar said the building is to have one advanced biology, one advanced chemistry, two general biology and two general chemistry labs.

He said construction is to begin in the spring of 2012, and the building is to open in spring of 2013.