The old is making way for the new at the University of Minnesota.

School President Robert Bruininks began the demolition of the old science classroom building Thursday, to make room for a more modern facility.

The move has left some to question whether the school can afford a $70 million project during such troubling economic times.

"I think this is the worst economic downturn I’ve seen in my adult lifetime," Bruininks said.

But explained that it’s funding comes from several sources. While the state paid for most of the new science center, the school raised money to pick up the rest of the tab.

Now on campus, it seems there’s just as many crews and cranes as there are students—with a new stadium and science center under construction. While these projects moved forward because funding was already set, Bruininks said the school is being very cautious about the future.

A reason why the $20 million Ambulatory Care Clinic and many other projects will be delayed for at least a year.

"There are some we were going to go into...[others] we know it is unrealistic to break ground," Bruininks explained.

The economic downtown is not expected to impact enrollment. In fact, more people return to school during recessions according to Bruininks.

He also said private donations are holding steady, but the university endowment is down about 30 percent.