Torrey Life Science
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Torrey Life Science or simply "TLS", is one of the primary sites of biology research and education at the University of Connecticut. It is located at 75 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs CT 06269.
[edit] History
The George Safford Torrey Life Science Building was built in 1961 on the Storrs campus of UConn. It was not named for Torrey until after 1980.
[edit] Current Situation
The building is quite run down. The basement in particular is very deteriorated. Numerous tiles are missing from the floor, which is always inexplicably hot. The lights of the building fill the hallways with a waxy, yellow glow. It feels so hot that one feels like they have visited the desert. Also, never use the bathroom becuase it is one of the most frightening experiences in life.The combined effects of the dim lighting, general grimeyness and the constant mechanical hum that pervades the building make one feel like they are inside some giant dead animal. TLS also has a giant armadillo in the front of the building behind a glass wall that all can see. This horrendous piece contributes to the hatred towards the building.
The UConn Advance, a PR publication put out by the university, cited TLS as being one of the few "Substandard" facilities at the university. This is unfortunate, as TLS contains many classrooms and it is difficult to get a BS from UConn without enduring at least a few classes in TLS.
The sentiment that Torrey Life Science is inadequate is also shared by the students of the university. An unofficial poll carried out by the Daily Campus, the school newspaper, found TLS to be the #1 Worst Place in Storrs, CT.
The building has provoked such hatred that during Spring 2005 final exams, someone threatened to blow up the building.
[edit] Renovations
The UCONN 2000 program promised some $2,181,000 initially for the renovation of TLS. This figure has now ballooned to over $16,000,000 and the renovations are not readily apparent in the building yet. Many of the classrooms remain under construction. Construction debris and detritus frequently fill the narrow hallways of the building. Algae-filled drain pipes crisscross the ceilings of the classrooms and offices of the building. Although connected to the more modern Biology-Physics and Biology-Pharmacy complexes, TLS has absorbed none of their refinement.