Julian Reyes
The Fall 2010 semester saw the grand opening of the new Center for Sciences building at Los Angeles Pierce College.
The modern, $57 million, 109 square foot, building has a university style feeling where all the sciences are located in the two-story structure.
The center provides six different disciplines with state-of-the-art features. Including chemistry, physics and planetary science, life sciences, nursing, and a veterinary department.
Isidore Goodman, chair of the chemistry department, has been working on the modern building for nine years. “The building was designed to provide a state of the art, safe and effective way to teach science.” said Goodman. “There a few minor issues that we are working on but all in all the teachers love it and the students love it.”
Some of the minor issues include the planetarium seating which is still going in and some lighting issues in the lecture halls, as well as problems with the AV system.
Meanwhile, sixteen new smart boards will be included as part of a add project for the new lecture rooms. The smart boards do not use markers, they can be written on with special pens or with a finger.
The nursing department has benefited from the upgrades with computer driven simulations that create real life hospital emergency scenarios. With mannequins called sim-man and sim-baby these devices have ranged in price starting at $30 thousand each. Also available are real life sim-moms where the speed of delivery can be adjusted for several hours or however needed.
Other upgrades include two classrooms for lecture, a computer lab and a conference room for faculty. Medication rooms are available to create a hospital type atmosphere.
Lyn Koller, department chair of life sciences, also sees the minor issues in the new building. “In general we are very happy with the building but with every new construction there are a few things we need to change.” said Koller. “The labs are great, they are spacious, and are light and beautiful, its great to teach and the students enjoy the new environment.”
Other perks for the life science department include separate facilities for the human cadaver program and an audio tutorial in two separate labs.
Dr. William Duxler, chair for physics and planetary sciences, has been teaching in Pierce College for 37 years and he sees a big change in student services. “One of the beautiful things is the accessibility of the department chairs.” said Duxler “The entire faculty has their offices right next to each other. It is promoting collegiately.”
At the same time students are raving about the center and the atmosphere it provides.
Yenny Sarabia is majoring in environmental and occupational health. She expressed her excitement but did have a concern. “It’s really spacious, the labs are great.” said Sarabia. “I just hate the lighting, its just to dim, its hard to take good notes.”
Tara Cooper, Biology major also shares the same sentiment. “I like coming to school and have the feeling that both of my classes are in the same building” said Copper. “I don’t have to go to separate buildings, it has a university type feel.”
To formally welcome this lavish new building to the Pierce College family, the faculty is having a ceremony Friday Oct. 15.