August 26, 2019

Opening Day at Rockwell

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.

Two students sit at a quiet study spot in the Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center on the first day of classes
Editors' note: Photo taken in 2019
Rockwell Integrated Science Center first day of classes
Editors' note: Photo taken in 2019
The Dyer Center inside Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
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.''
A beam decorated with signatures is part of the Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
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.
Computer Science lab in Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
Editors' note: Photo taken in 2019
New microscopes inside a biology lab in the Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
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.
A quiet study spot inside Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
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.''
Two students sit in chairs inside Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
Editors' note: Photo taken in 2019
Two students enjoy breakfast on the first day of classes at the Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
2019 photo
Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center cafe
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.''
Students enjoy lunch prepared at the Rockwell cafe
Editors' note: Photo taken in 2019
President Byerly is interviewed by WFMZ reporter inside Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center
A reporter from WFMZ-TV 69 interviews President Alison Byerly about the opening of the building.
The first day of classes inside the Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center.
Editors' note: Photo taken in 2019
Categorized in: Academic News, Biology, Data Science, Dyer Center, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Featured News, Innovative Teaching and Learning, Interdisciplinary, News and Features, Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, Students, Sustainability

1 Comment

  1. Harry McCurdy says:
    August 27, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    It looks like a beautiful place to study!

Comments are closed.