Miller Hall makeover
Psych and poli sci departments get new labs for research
Posted on January 28, 2008
After two years of renovations, Miller Hall now offers brand new facilities for students of psychology and political science, as well as graduate psychology, sociology and other programs in the College of Arts and Letters.
The building’s interior was demolished entirely and remodeled with a more institutional, yet beneficial design. Miller now has two elevators, larger conference rooms, reception areas, sensory lights, department suites and handicapped accessibility.
Fifty laboratory rooms have been constructed throughout the first floor of Miller, equipped with brand new facilities specialized for research in visual perception and performance, auditory perception, behavior analysis, biofeedback, forensic psychology and cognitive science. Labs include suites geared towards both human and animal research.
“We miss Johnston [Hall] because it was homey — it had really big windows, high ceilings, bigger offices,” said Michael Stoloff, one of the leading organizers behind the building’s renovation.
“That was nice, but we have facilities now that we didn’t have before, and we can do things here that weren’t feasible in Johnston. Plus, the whole faculty can be in one place. That helps students. All the professors are right here in this building.”
Students who aren’t psychology majors can also reap the benefit of these technologies, as several studies deal with everyday stresses like test anxiety.
“Our smoking cessation research will help people quit smoking,” Stoloff said. “We have equipment that is able to monitor nicotine levels and help individuals do the things necessary to quit. Heart-rate biofeedback will also assist individuals in relieving their own test anxiety by giving them information on the beating of their own hearts.”
