The Olympian

Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jon Miller Out with the old, in with the new. Board of Trustees Chairman Doug Sayan, chemistry instructor Bob Kieburtz and President Dr. David Mitchell cut the ribbon on the new Science/Technology Building on Oct. 26. The state-of-the-art building is built with technology and energy effi cency in mind and replaces the 54-year-old Math/Science Building. [Click to enlarge]

Staff, students, board members
and members of the community
gathered for the ribbon-cutting
ceremony of the new Science/
Technology Building, Olympic
College Bookstore and the remodeled
Bremer Student Center on Oct. 26.
Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, president and
CEO of the Museum of Flight, was
the keynote speaker for the opening
ceremony and spoke about the
importance of math, engineering,
science and technology in today's
marketplace. Dunbar told how a
teacher had inspired her life as a
child, which led to her doctorate's
degree in mechanical/biomedical
engineering and 1,200 hours as a
crewmember on five space shuttle
missions.
Other speakers included OC
President Dr. David Mitchell and
building architects John Blumthal
of Yost Grube Hall Architecture and
Steve Rice from Rice Fergus Miller
Architecture.
Following the welcoming
segment, the crowd trickled out of
the BSC and down to the doors of
the newest building on campus to
witness Board of Trustees Chairman
Doug Sayan, Mitchell and chemistry
instructor Bob Kieburtz cut the red
ribbon. Then the crowd wandered
through what Kieburtz called "a
beautiful building."
"Students are going to enjoy this
building for the next 30, 40 or 50
years," said Kieburtz, who was the
faculty member most involved with
the project.
He added that the temperature
is more controlled and the lighting
is better than the old Math/Science
Building.
"It's a pleasant building to be in,"
Kieburtz said.
Geography professor Dr. Susan
Digby said she thinks the Science/
Technology Building is great.
"It feels much more like a
university than a school," she said.
She added that as an instructor
she has had to learn how to operate
some of the new equipment, but she
said it's "nice not to be dealing with
chalk."
Dr. Rick MacLennan, vice
president of student services said
the new building changes the whole
dynamic of the campus.
"It really has a huge impact on
how students think about OC,"
MacLennan said. "I think better
learning happens as a result of (the
new building). The whole feel of
the facility creates a better learning
attitude."
Running Start student Scott
MacLennan said the building gives
the campus a more serious feel.
"It makes the campus a lot nicer
especially with the library right next
to it," he said.
Image was on the minds of a lot of
the visitors to the new state-of-theart
facility, including Sayan.
"From what I've seen, it's a grand
improvement," Sayan said. "Bricks
and mortar don't make an education,
but it is certainly an inspiration."

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