The architect for the West Virginia University Student Recreation Center will also design renovations to a 49-year-old academic building on the downtown campus.

Moody/Nolan Ltd. Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, has been selected as the architect for Brooks Hall. The firm will design office, laboratory and instructional space for the Department of Geology and Geography and various computer labs and general purpose classrooms.

Renovations to the 91,500-square-foot building will start after completion of the new Life Sciences Building in May 2002, officials said. Estimated cost of the project is $16 million.

Currently Brooks Hall houses the Department of Biology and Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology. The Biology Department will move into the Life Sciences Building; the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology will relocate to another building yet to be determined. The Department of Geology and Geography is now housed in White Hall.

The Brooks Hall renovation is part of WVUs master facilities plan, a 10-year campus renewal program totaling more than $250 million. Projects currently under construction include the $34 million Student Rec Center, $43 million Life Sciences Building, $35 million downtown library and $22.8 million office complex along Morgantowns waterfront.

Moody/Nolan is one of the largest design firms in central Ohio. The 126-person firm, which has regional offices in Cincinnati and Nashville, provides architectural, interior design, civil engineering and planning services.