TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University will officially open the new Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science Building in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 12, which also will include a dedication of a statue of former FSU President Eric Barron.

In addition to faculty offices, the 130,500-square-foot building includes 23 research labs and eight teaching labs, a broadcast studio for meteorology students, a 280-seat auditorium and a 100-seat active learning classroom.

The building also will feature a seismometer and solar flower. In the future, a feature will be added called Science on a Sphere — a global display of planetary data such as atmospheric storms, climate change and ocean temperature that can be shown on the sphere.

Barron, who spearheaded the development of the building during his tenure at FSU, will attend the ceremony with his wife, Molly. A bronze statue sculpted by Master Craftsman Studios will be unveiled at the event to commemorate Barron’s 2010-2014 presidency. The ceremony will take place:

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12

2 P.M.

EARTH, OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE BUILDING

1011 ACADEMIC WAY FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Members of the media may take a tour of the building from 3-5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, in order to obtain B-roll and photographs. Reporters wishing to take a tour must contact University Communications prior to that time.