On Saturday, Oct. 1, Cabrini College will dedicate the Center for Science, Education and Technology, a new $18.5 million, 61,000 sq. ft. facility with classrooms and research facilities for students and faculty.
The Center for Science, Education and Technology (SET) is the largest new construction project in the College's 48-year history, tripling the College's existing laboratory space, and adding sophisticated new equipment to chemistry, biology and physical sciences laboratories.
In addition to the science facilities, SET houses new equipment for information technology students and is home to Cabrini's program for teachers on incorporating science into elementary education curricula. The building, like the rest of Cabrini's 110-acre campus, is equipped with wireless technology.
"Science and information technology are two of the fastest growing fields," said Cabrini College President Dr. Antoinette Iadarola.
"As these areas continue to expand, Cabrini students will be conversant in the latest technology, better preparing them for careers or post-graduate work in science, science education and information technology."
SET is funded through contributions raised through the ongoing 10,000 Hearts Comprehensive Campaign, College reserves and a portion of the proceeds of a 2003 bond issue.
Of the 10,000 Hearts fund-raising, more than $4 million has come from individual donors, corporations and foundations.
Major gifts received include generous donations from the Hamilton Family Foundation and Cabrini College trustee and chair Margaret Hamilton Duprey '73, Trustee Emeritus Edith R. Dixon, F. Eugene Dixon and the Widener Memorial Foundation, the Connelly Foundation, the George I. Alden Trust, Arcadia Foundation, and trustees John F. Chappell and Caswell F. and Joan B. Holloway and the Caswell F. Holloway, Jr. & Marie B. Holloway Foundation. The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart also provided invaluable leadership support to this project.
An additional $2.8 million in federal and state grants has been awarded in support of equipment and program development. The College will raise an additional $2 million to complete funding for SET.
"This has been in the planning stages since 1998," said Dr. Sherry Fuller-Espie, associate professor of biology and chair of the science department at Cabrini.
"We have always had a core strength in education, and this new facility will enable us to expand our focus on science research and education. We are all thrilled how the Center has turned out, and now our students will love it as well."
Governor Edward G. Rendell, State Senator Connie Williams and former NASA Astronaut Kathy Thornton will speak at the Oct. 1 dedication of The Center for Science, Education and Technology.
Additional Information About SET
The building was awarded honorable mention as Best Institutional Project in the 2005 Construction Excellence Awards given by the General Building Contractors Association, an organization of more than 350 general contractors, specialty contractors and related firms.
The building was designed by the Boston office of the international architecture firm of Einhorn Yaffe Prescott. The construction management company was Turner Construction. The three-story facility features some zinc-clad interior walls and uses natural materials, including cherry and ash woods, Pennsylvania bluestone and Wissahickon Schist.
It is nestled in the "cathedral of trees" that comprises Cabrini's 110-acre campus.