What will more room and better facilities mean for the Challenger Learning Center (CLC) at Wheeling Jesuit University? It will mean that the CLC that has won the award for the most visited center five years running, will now have more resources to provide math and science education to youngsters in the area.

The completion of the 6,500 square foot addition to the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies will provide the CLC with larger facilities to serve students who participate in on-site programs and school children who take part in the distance learning initiative, e-Mission: Operation Montserrat.

"Our additional space will allow the Challenger Center to serve even more students than in years past," said Nancy Sturm, education director at the CLC. "We will have the ability to do video conferencing and more distance learning missions. Part of the expansion includes a video conferencing room and a distance learning booth. The center has two distance learning booths operating currently. There is also a new classroom and multi-purpose room, plus seven staff offices and a reception area.

The $900,000 project enclosed the balcony area of the building. "The addition allows us to centralize the Challenger Learning Center's operations within one area," said Carole T. Coleman, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "The Center's space simulator will remain in its current location, only the CLC's offices and classrooms will be relocated into the new area."

Funding for the project was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.