By: Nyah Jackson
In September of 2025, Southern Adventist University bought the former Collegedale Academy
(CA) Elementary building. The 54,159 square foot space, called the Spalding Elementary
building, is under renovation to become the new home of the Mathematics Department and
School of Computing.
The entire project will be a major block-out renovation that consists of all electrical, HVAC,
plumbing, flooring, walls, office buildouts, flooring, windows and more. According to Vinnie
Schober, associate vice president for Financial Administration, the first phase of construction
will consist of preparing 24,692 square feet of the space for mathematics and computing.
Concerning the timeline of the project, Schober said, “Construction began back in September of
2025 and will continue through April 2027. Classes will be held in this space [starting] the fall
2027 semester.”
Currently, parts of the building are being used by Merge Worship, a collegiate ministry of the
Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists. The ministry holds a church service on Saturday
mornings inside the gymnasium, and the construction in the space has caused some need for
adjustments.
Ellen Sanches, the student leader choir director for Merge, explained that while their main goal is
getting ready for church service on Saturdays, the construction has added a couple of extra steps.
“Sometimes that means cleaning things up that may need it,” Sanches said. “If I’m not mistaken,
we now have to set up and take down for every service.”
Regarding the future of Merge at that location, Schober said, “We have agreed to Merge
Worship meeting in the gymnasium and granted them the use of other spaces on the lower level
of the building. We have no plans at this time to change that arrangement.”
According to Schober, the overall goal of the construction is to create more space for
mathematics and computing while giving the Hickman Science Center the opportunity for more
facilities.
“By moving math and computing out of Hickman Science, we will have more room to renovate
the science building, adding more labs and classroom spaces to Hickman,” Schober said.
For mathematics and computing students, many are anticipating the move to the new location.
Owen Cook, a junior computer science major, said he heard of the move when he got to campus
this semester.
“I think it’s exciting since Hickman Science Center is a bunch of different departments,” Cook
said. “I definitely think it could benefit the department since it would give a more dedicated
space. For computing students, it could probably mean things like larger labs down the road.”
Along with an independent space, Cook also mentioned the benefits of the location and
additional parking.
“If CA is another building for Southern, I could definitely see that opening up and creating more
parking spots,” Cook said. “Also, it’s closer for Southern Village, so it’s less of a walk for
anyone that’s over in Village.”
Grace Alexander, a sophomore computer science major, also thinks the new space will benefit
the department.
“It would be nice to get classrooms with more resources, like a bigger computer lab,” Alexander
said.
The lack of space for computer science students has often kept Alexander from being able to
work.
“Sometimes I want to work on something for a lab, but there’s a class in there,” Alexander said.
“So, I either have to ask the professor if I can use a computer or I just have to wait like two hours
for the room to be clear.”
With renovations underway and plans to open in the fall 2027 semester, computing and
mathematics students are looking forward to the changes a new building will bring.
