The start of a new semester is always an exciting time, but this semester is one that many have been looking forward to for years, myself included. The Fort Lewis College Geosciences, Physics & Engineering Hall is now open!
For months, I walked through GPE Hall’s rooms while they were under construction, then over the break when they were ready, but empty. It was so gratifying to see the building full and bustling with students during the first week of school. The building is finally alive.
Every time I’m in the hall, I note the melding of science and art. The South Lobby Constellation Ceiling, made possible by FLC Alumni, sits overhead of the courtyard entrance. The stars depicted represent constellations with special importance to the area’s Native American tribes. Visitors entering the northeast doors are greeted by the beautiful Foucault Pendulum, a gift from Grace and Gustav Deltscheff, marking the rotation of the Earth. Past the pendulum stands the Wall of Time, a fascinating representation of the planet’s geologic history. The list goes on.
GPE Hall offers the opportunity to meld teaching with technology in a way we’ve never seen before at Fort Lewis College. This is a facility designed for teamwork and collaboration. The labs have the kind of state-of-the-art equipment that you might find at large research universities. Pair all of that with exceptional faculty, and FLC geosciences, physics and engineering grads will be getting everything they need to hit the ground running when they leave here.
Thank you to the faculty and staff of the Geosciences and Physics & Engineering departments. They partnered with the administration and put in countless hours of work to make this new building a reality. I hope everyone on campus, whether they have classes in GPE or not, take a moment to tour the new facility. It is amazing!
Sincerely,
Dene Thomas
President, Fort Lewis College