Cornell College to celebrate completion of Science Facilities Project
Cornell College is celebrating the completion of its Science Facilities Project with a dedication ceremony and public tours during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend of 2019.
The project included the construction of Russell Science Center and the renovations of West Science Hall and Law Hall.
What: Science Facilities Project Celebration with Dedication of Russell Science Center
When: 3–4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25
Where: Outside the front entrance of Russell Science Center
Immediately following the dedication, the public is invited on tours of all three buildings (Russell Science Center, West Science Hall, and Law Hall) from 4–5:30 p.m.
“We are thrilled to share these buildings with alumni and friends of the college,” said President Jonathan Brand. “This project wouldn’t have been possible without our donors who are committed to providing new opportunities for our students. We want to say a special thank you to Trustee Jean Russell ’65 who gave the largest single cash gift in the history of Cornell College to make the Russell Science Center possible.”
The $35 million Science Facilities Project, announced in February of 2017, transforms space on campus and provides 100,000 square feet of STEM space for students. Russell Science Center was opened for classes in November of 2018. It features biology and chemistry lab spaces and classrooms, faculty offices, dedicated research space, and study areas. It is the first new building on campus in 40 years, and it was designed specifically for teaching on the block plan.
“We wanted a building that would foster engaged learning in the sciences, we wanted a building that would be adaptable for the future, we wanted a building that would be unique in its design, and we wanted a building that would be a visual emblem for the integration of science and the liberal arts,” said Dean of the College Joe Dieker. “I’m pleased to say we have exceeded all of this thanks to BWBR, our design team; our builders, Mortenson Construction; our faculty and staff who worked on the design and planning; and of course, our donors.
West Science Hall is now the home of physics & engineering, computer science, and mathematics and statistics. It has new classrooms, research areas, creator spaces for Cornell’s engineering program, and new student study and gathering areas.
The growing kinesiology program has moved into the renovated spaces on the first floor of Law Hall, which includes updated classrooms, faculty offices, and modern research labs for the study of human movement and exercise. The psychology program also has a new lab space on the third floor of Law Hall.
Renovations on West Science Hall and Law Hall wrapped up in August, just in time for classes to start for the first block of the 2019-20 academic year.
Media planning to attend the ceremony and who are interested in a tour should contact Jen Visser at jvisser@cornellcollege.edu by Thursday, Oct. 24, to reserve a timeslot.
