Construction on the Science Laboratory Center was completed this past summer, which allowed students to begin doing lab work in the new building at the start of the academic year, August 30, 2004.

The Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Nancy Jannik,  said the building houses all four natural science departments: biology, chemistry, geoscience and physics.

“We are very proud of our new building,” said Jannik. “Its potential is phenomenal.”

The design of the facility is educational and symbolic. The wood paneling is made from renewable bamboo; some of the paint and carpet in the building were created from recycled materials; the atrium runs east and west, mimicking the Mississippi River; a first-floor plasma television shows science news and laboratory experiments; and sky lights were used to save on power.

The art in the building also lends itself to learning experiences. One percent of the cost of the building went toward the Minnesota Percent for Art in Public Places Program, sponsored by the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Department of Administration. Some of the art includes a map of the geology of the Winona area inlaid in the terrazzo floor; scientific symbols are etched into the atrium floor; and a star-shaped bench is engraved with the first constellation map of the Northern Hemisphere.

“We strived to make the science building something different than what we already had on campus,” said Jannik.

The Science Laboratory Center is made up entirely of science labs and one auditorium-style lecture hall. Classrooms and faculty offices are still housed in Pasteur Hall. Winona State is awaiting passage of a state bonding bill which will allow the university to complete phase two of the science building renovation by reconstructing Pasteur Hall to add much needed modern classroom space.

The new Science Laboratory Center offers state-of-the-art equipment including 1,900 data ports, teaching stations with video projectors and microscopes that connect to laptops to view and store images. The facility also has more space to conduct research and lab experiments. Richard Shields, chair of the physics department, said space was so tight in Pasteur Hall that labs ran morning to night in order to provide all WSU students with their required courses.

“We also had students doing projects in closets and in the hallway of Pasteur before this new facility was built,” said Shields.

The physics department now has double the space it had before, which allows students to conduct experiments in the classroom.

Other departments, like biology, also saw a 100 percent increase in space, adding six instructional labs, two research areas and a greenhouse. Michael Delong, biology professor, said the limited space in Pasteur made it difficult for students and faculty to move around the classroom, and limited work space caused supplies to constantly slide into each other on crowded lab tables.

“Now we have the capability to do what we were doing before but better,” said Delong, “and we can do even more of it.”

The labs in Pasteur Hall were built in 1962. Charla Miertschin, chemistry department chair, said at that time there were 13 natural science faculty and 100 majors. Today, those numbers have grown to 39 natural science faculty and more than 1,000 majors. Plus, today every one of WSU’s 8,000 students takes at least two required science courses.

In chemistry, the students and faculty received additional research labs. The new structure provides better ventilation throughout the building and cuts down on emissions. The new hood systems ventilate fumes which are filtered and sent up and out of the building. Chemistry students are also able learn from a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) machine which can be compared to an MRI. Students are able to spin chemicals with this machine to uncover what elements make up a particular compound.

The excitement of the building also brings many new advancements for the Department of Geoscience. Cathy Summa, chair of the department, said the new facility houses a three-story geologic rock-wall and a flume lab which includes a replica of the Mississippi River and landscape elevations.

“We saw this building as a way to change the way we teach,” said Summa. “This whole facility is a lab for us. It’s a way for students to learn through hands-on experiences.”

Experiential learning is becoming the focus of Winona State University, as faculty strive to teach students in more ways than the traditional classroom lecture. The design and intent of this building gives students the opportunity to practice what they’re reading in textbooks and hearing in class, providing students the true Winona experience.

Last Modified: Monday, March 21, 2005 14:10 by Rhone Richard