Construction of the new Hanner Health and Kinesiology Research Center began on Sept. 24 at the Hanner Complex, with the old pool building in the complex being renovated to make room for the center.

The center is being built to provide more space for labs and research.

“We have some space limitations with our current labs. The new labs allow us to expand opportunities for faculty and students,” Barry Joyner, dean of the Waters College of Health Professions, said. “Additionally, the current biomechanics laboratory is located in a gym that could be better utilized by academics and athletics if we could convert back to a gym.”

According to an email from Matthew Shingler, director of facilities, planning, design and construction for Georgia Southern University, the completed center will be 10,000 square feet.

The construction will cost an estimated $5 million and the capital funding is coming from the Board of Regents, the email said.

Construction is expected to be complete by June 2019.

Rachel Adams, The George-Anne News Reporter, ganewsed@georgiasouthern.edu