The original Rankin Science Hall had been constructed in two phases, one in 1966 and one in 1970. FWA conducted a facilities assessment concluding that the original 1966 building should be demolished and replaced with a new structure, while the 1970 section could be cost effectively renovated to extend its useful life. As part of the study, The FWA Group also prepared a swing space study to determine how the instructional program could be accommodated during construction and how the existing building could remain in use during the renovation.

The new replacement building is also home to the Astronomy Department's Rankin Science Observatory. The Rankin Science Observatory is the instructional facility used for teaching advanced undergraduate astronomy courses in observational techniques. The building's Observa-Dome houses a 16-inch telescope that was provided with a grant from the National Science Foundation. The dome and its telescope are primarily used by students in an advanced course, Observational Astronomy.

A unique feature of the new Complex is the GoTo Astronomy Laboratory Facility which provides astronomical observation facilities for introductory astronomy students. The University's challenges for this project included the quality and user friendliness of the telescopes, inherent complexities dealing with photography, the labor of assembling the instruments every night, and the unpredictability of the weather. The new GoTo Laboratory houses 18 computer controlled telescopes that are linked to digital monitors in an adjacent lab. Even more unique is the lab's 40 x 60 foot retractable roof. The specially designed roof allows the telescopes to remain permanently mounted, thus eliminating assembly time and procedures while maintaining the critical mechanical and optical alignments. The retractable roof also allows the use of marginal nights where one would not have attempted to set up telescopes the old way, and permits use of nights that clear up at the last minute. The retractable roof is designed to fully open or close in less than five minutes. Also included is an observation deck that is vibrationally isolated from the telescope piers and is directly accessed from the adjacent laboratory room. This adjacent lab is equipped with 18 computer worktables, one for each telescope station, allowing students to operate the telescopes under the stars.

The new GoTo Laboratory and its instrumentation make it possible for astronomy students to perform quantitative observations at levels comparable to other introductory science laboratories. The facility is also ideal for outreach programs, local schools and community groups when not in use by the University.