Above / During the soft opening of the North Central College Science Center that began at 7:30AM on March 27, 2017, NCC President Troy Hammond was surrounded by dignitaries and school associates when he cut the ribbon on a Brilliant Future for the college.
The dream facility with flexible interactive learning spaces, a 140-seat lecture hall and 10 portals of study, is set to intersect multiple disciplines through the science experience.
PHOTO GALLERY / Ribbon Cutting and Tour during soft opening of North Central College Science Center
[shareprints gallery_id=”71445″ gallery_type=”squares” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”small” image_padding=”0″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”false” lightbox_type=”slide” titles=”true” captions=”true” descriptions=”true” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]Thanks for the tour, Dennis Vovos, Project Manager and Principal of Holobird & Root.
Meanwhile, students already are using classroom and other spaces as they begin the third term at North Central.
The dedication of the North Central Science Center will be during 2017 Homecoming on Oct. 20. The public will be welcome.
Original Post, March 14, 2016 / On a gray day not unlike today, March 27, 2017, Naperville City Councilman Rebecca Obarski joined many North Central College students who added their signatures to the steel beam that was hoisted during the “Topping Out Celebration” for the “premier multidisciplinary science facility in the Midwest.”
As a ceremonial tribute to progress on the steel structure of the North Central College Science Center, leaders of the private coeducational, liberal arts college in the heart of Naperville hosted a “Topping Out Celebration” on Monday.
“Topping out” is a term used by ironworkers to signal the final piece of steel is being hoisted into place on a large building under construction.
To commemorate the milestone, students, faculty, staff, members of the Board of Trustees, public officials, the community and neighbors attended the lunch-hour celebration at the Science Center site at the corner of S. Loomis Street and E. Van Buren Avenue.
Prior to hoisting the beam into place, attendees by the hundreds used red and black permanent Sharpees to sign the steel beam emblazoned in large letters with “A Brilliant Future.”
According to Rick Spencer, vice president for institutional advancement, it’s customary for the last beam to be painted white and signed by all the construction workers and people involved in the building.
At 12:30PM, Spencer opened the ceremony mindful that he’d been awakened by raindrops falling on his roof at 4AM. Grateful for dry overcast skies, Spencer went on to recognize students who had taken time out to attend the festivities as they finished up finals this week before spring break begins on March 16.
On another light note, Spencer added that since Topping Off Day is shared with Pi Day and Albert Einstein’s birthday, “it’s the perfect day to lay the last beam.”[shareprints gallery_id=”56060″ gallery_type=”squares” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”small” image_padding=”2″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”false” lightbox_type=”slide” comments=”false” sharing=”true”]After Chaplin Eric Doolittle led the guests in a prayerful moment, brief remarks were presented by Steve Hoeft, President of the North Central College Board of Trustees.
“This building is a science center, but it’s for everyone,” said Hoeft. “We want biologists who can sing and philosophers who can make sulfuric acid.”
Speakers also included Jeffrey Bjorklund, a chemistry professor known as the “shepherd” of the project since 2003; Paul Norris, President of the Class of 2016; Judy Brodhead, Naperville City Councilman; and Evelyn Sanquinetti, Illinois Lieutenant Governor.
Just prior to two ironworkers’ setting the beam hoisted by a crane, President Troy D. Hammond addressed the community, anticipating big things from the spacious 125,000 square foot science center that will provide much-needed space for traditional sciences as well as innovative new technologies.
Construction of the $60-million Science Center is on schedule with plans to open in March 2017. When it opens, the 4-story facility will include 18 teaching labs, 16 research labs, 15 classrooms, a lecture hall, 19 student gathering spaces, 53 faculty offices and a rooftop greenhouse.
Considering “A Brilliant Future” and that Spencer reminded guests that today is the 137th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s birthday in 1879, a quote from the German-born theoretical physicist seems relative: “I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.”
For more information, visit “A Brilliant Future.”
