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With the Goodyear Blimp flying overhead flashing congratulation messages, The University of Akron officially dedicated its new College of Arts & Sciences building on Sept. 4.
Festooning the brick and limestone structure for the festivities was a 16-foot, blue and gold bow. If it looked familiar, that’s because it was draped across both the Polymer Engineering Academic Center and the East Campus Parking Deck when they were dedicated. Both structures are part of the University’s New Landscape for Learning building program.
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| The new College of Arts & Sciences building was 'wrapped' as a gift, complete with a giant blue and gold ribbon, for the Sept. 4 dedication festivities. |
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Situated near the center of campus at the intersection of College Street and Buchtel Avenue, the College of Arts & Sciences building blends traditional red brick with sleek, contemporary designs and features a soaring, four-story glass atrium, an amphitheatre in the classic Greek tradition and technology-laden classrooms.
The new building houses the departments of computer science, economics, geography and planning, history, psychology, statistics, and theoretical and applied mathematics, as well as the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology, the Center for Statistical Consulting, the Center for Organizational Research and the Psychological Counseling Clinic.
Delivering remarks for the occasion were University President Luis M. Proenza, as well as Ted Curtis, vice president for capital planning and facilities management; and Roger Creel, dean of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences.
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| Roger Creel, dean of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, was among the speakers on Sept. 4. |
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The New Landscape for Learning campus improvement program was approved by the University’s Board of Trustees in 1999, and construction began in 2000. When complete, the $200 million, five-year program will add six new buildings and 30 acres of new green space to campus, and includes major renovations to 14 existing structures.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the building was open for self-guided tours prior to an appreciation program in the atrium that featured speakers who provided a multigenerational perspective of the college.
Speakers were James D. D’Ianni, a 1934 alumnus and former director of elastomer and chemical research for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Scott Read, who received a B.A. in history in 1991 and is a member of the Fitzgerald Institute Executive Advisory Board; and Ashley Foster, a senior majoring in biology.
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| Cutting the ribbon to dedicate the College of Arts & Sciences building on Sept. 4 are, from left, Ted Curtis, vice president for capital planning and facilities management; Rainy Stitzlein, chairwoman emeritus of the Board of Trustees; Patricia Graves, vice chair of the Board; David E. "Gene" Waddell, chairman emeritus of the Board; Dr. Donald Demkee, vice chair of the Board; Marion Ruebel, retired UA president; and Luis M. Proenza, University President. |
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Also at the appreciation program, Proenza dedicated the Lewis C. Turner Amphitheatre, which flanks the building’s east side. The amphitheatre is named for an alumnus who was an instructor in public speaking here for more than 25 years during the mid-20th century. One of the young people he influenced was Paul E. Martin, a University benefactor who donated funds for the amphitheatre.
URS Greiner Woodward Clyde Architects, based in Akron, designed the 127,200-square foot structure at a cost of $19.5 million. It has 14 general-purpose classrooms on the first floor, eight classrooms/labs wired with fiber optics for Internet connectivity, eight conference and seminar rooms, a soils research laboratory and 151 faculty and student offices. The entire building is wired for wireless technology.
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