An opening celebration to formally introduce 91ֿ at Stark’s Science and Nursing Building, the campus’s seventh major structure, was held on Aug. 27.
The 41,140-square-foot building is 91ֿ Stark’s anchor for its science and health-related disciplines. Faculty members and classes from nursing, biological sciences, physics and geology departments are housed in the new facility. The festive event also celebrated the renovation of 5,250 square feet of chemistry laboratory space in the existing Main Hall building that connects to the Science and Nursing Building through a second-floor lounge and walkway.
The state-of-the-art building includes numerous environmental features, which earned it a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification. The sustainability-focused design elements include a solar-generated hot water system, a green roof, light-harvesting system in classrooms, energy-saving heat recovery chiller and a storm water management system, among others. Adjacent to the Science and Nursing Building is a vertical wind turbine that produces on-site renewable energy for the building.
91ֿ Stark Interim Dean Denise Seachrist, 91ֿ President Beverly Warren and Stark Campus Advisory Board Chairman Dr. John Humphrey Jr. made brief remarks to welcome the crowd of nearly 200 community leaders, 91ֿ administrators, faculty and staff. At the end of the program, Seachrist presented Warren with a framed artist’s concept of the campus’s newly installed sundial, which is prominently placed north of the building, announcing that the structure has been dedicated in her honor.
“It is our distinct pleasure to dedicate this beautiful work of art as a tribute to you,” Seachrist said. “As the sunburst represents the bright spot that is 91ֿ, let this sundial remind our students that they are the bright spot in all that we do at 91ֿ Stark and that they have arrived at Stark County’s destination for education.”
The attendees were encouraged to explore the building at their leisure, learning about laboratory space and the technologically advanced equipment firsthand from the faculty members and lab assistants who will be teaching and supporting these academic areas.
The new building is a part of 91ֿ’s Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future initiative, which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic and new spaces. The goal of this initiative is to create the most outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community enriched by the university.