On the first day of fall semester, students enjoy the views, food, and social scene at new Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
Greeted by gleaming glass and the promise of further deepening Lafayette’s interdisciplinary connections, students, faculty, and staff settled into the new Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center today.
Rockwell, the largest capital project in Lafayette’s history, joins Acopian Engineering Center and Hugel Science Center to create a hub of scientific inquiry on Anderson Courtyard. Jaws dropped as utterings of “wow” could be heard from students experiencing Rockwell’s expansive views and spacious, comfortable collaborative areas for the first time.
Rockwell houses the biology, computer science, and environmental science and environmental studies programs, as well as Dyer Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Daniel and Heidi Hanson ’91 Center for Inclusive STEM Education, and Office of Sustainability. A dedication ceremony is planned for Sept. 27 at 5 p.m.
Here are images from the first day of classes by Clay Wegrzynowicz.
Maddie Pearson '22, a biology major, and Kyra Helfrich '20, a neuroscience major, enjoy this quiet study space. ''The tables and chairs here are so nice,'' Pearson says. ''I'd love this to be my new study spot. But I think it might get very popular.'' Chirag Nijjer '22, an economics major, says, ''It's absolutely beautiful. I feel like it will be a very good hub for students. There are social spaces as well as academic spaces and spaces, like the Dyer Center, where students can collaborate and play with ideas.'' Dyer Center Director Yusuf Dahl, chatting here with Chirag Nijjer '22, says, ''For the Dyer Center to achieve its full potential, we have to build a community around innovation and entrepreneurship. Now we have a space to foster that community. Prior to the opening of Rockwell, the center was kind of virtual. Students would come in and out and there was a lot of email communication. Having this dedicated space will take us to the next level.'' Signatures from students, faculty, staff, and trustees decorate a 10-foot I-beam, which now lives within the Dyer Center on the third floor of Rockwell. Students gather for a computer science lab with Chun Wai Liew, professor of computer science. Rockwell is also the home to the College's new data-science minor, which Liew is overseeing. The biology department has 193 new high-tech Zeiss microscopes that will enhance the lab experience. The scopes connect to projection technology in the room, which enables an entire lab to see what's on a particular slide in detail. Michael Sun '23 says, ''Yesterday, I visited this building as part of a first-year student tour. I saw this spot, and it amazed me. I thought, I should come and work from this space tomorrow. I just posted on Instagram that this is my first time in life feeling joyful while doing homework. I love this view. It’s amazing.'' Jose Alcala '22, an anthropology and sociology major, and Jordan Mendez '22, a government and law major, don't have classes in Rockwell. But that didn't deter them from coming to check it out. ''The building is really nice; it looks futuristic,'' Alcala says. ''I like the pops of color. We live in Watson Hall, which is next door, so this will be a great study place for us.'' Lauren Ameruoso '22, a psychology and Italian studies double major, says, ''I've been staring at this building, waiting to get in. I'm very pleased with all the healthy options in the new cafe here. It's going to be a great place to come to eat and study.'' Jon Sador, executive chef of Bon Appetit, says, ''One of the premises of the Rockwell cafe is that everything is local and sustainable and compostable or recyclable.'' Sador continues, ''All of the 'Go' items in all of our dining halls are as locally sourced as possible, but here the bar is raised a little higher. We have local cheese, lettuce, turkey, beef, chicken, and cheese. And we have alumni-owned companies providing the pasta, soups, and chips.'' A reporter from WFMZ-TV 69 interviews President Alison Byerly about the opening of the building. Sam Iacavazzi '22, a biology major, says, ''I am very excited about being here. I'm grateful I'll be taking classes here. Being here just feels so grand.''
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1 Comment
It looks like a beautiful place to study!