A newly constructed cupola was lifted and attached to the roof of Waters Hall on the campus of Athens State University on Tuesday. The building’s renovation is expected to be completed by Martin & Cobey Construction in early 2010.

Waters Hall, named for former Athens College trustee Newman Waters, is the university’s only laboratory and instructional space. It was built in 1955 and has served as a science training ground without a major renovation until this time.

The former three-story, 25,000-square-foot structure will be transformed into an approximately 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art sciences center consisting of 12 laboratories, eight classroom and lecture areas, and 16 faculty offices that will comply with current Americans with Disabilities Acts requirements.