Editors note: This story was written by staff members of The Independent, Clark College’s campus newspaper, as part of a collaboration with The Columbian called Voices From Clark College. It is also being published by The Independent at clarkcollegeindependent.com.
Walking through the construction site of the new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math building, it is hard to imagine anything other than the piles of dirt and giant yellow construction vehicles that currently occupy the space.
“The level where we currently stand will be the second floor,” said project manager Jim Watkins on a recent walk-through.
The new building broke ground in August and has an estimated completion date of Feb. 21, 2016. The building will be “completely operable” June or July 2016, according to Peter Williams, Clark College’s dean of STEM. It will provide the STEM program with modern technology, finally bringing it into the 21st century, according to Watkins.
The 70,000-square-foot building going up on the north side of Fort Vancouver Way across from the college’s Gaiser Hall should have been completed by now, but it was delayed due to state funding, Watkins said. The building is expected to cost $41 million.
The building will have three levels with 10 classrooms, 11 labs, study areas, tutor rooms and a digital lounge. The building will also feature an engineering collaboratorium, cadaver lab and a drop tower.
It is not yet determined if STEM’s new cadaver lab will be an additional lab or will take the place of the existing one, according to science professor Mark Bolke.
“Regarding cadavers at local schools: Portland State University has two cadavers for its undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology courses. Concordia University has at least one, at least they did several years ago. Mt. Hood (Community College) may use them for funeral science degree. We have five and that is definitely unusual for a two-year college,” Bolke said.
Angela McGreevey, an Anatomy & Physiology student, said because of Clark’s cadaver lab program, she feels she has had “a more enriching experience” than she would have at other community colleges without one.
“I feel my learning was more in-depth and more realistic to what I would see in the medical setting that I’m going into.”
Current STEM classes take place in Anna Pechanec Hall, built in 1967 and the Science Building, built in 1958. The Science Building added a Science Service Center in 1980, a laboratory in 1994 and a horticultural center in 1987.
Once the STEM building is complete, some programs will remain in the current facilities, such as the geology classroom and lab, according to Williams. “There is a college facilities planning process that will determine what becomes of the remainder of the space,” Williams said.
Math classes will still be held in Bauer Hall.
“It’s really just a space issue,” said David Stephan, instruction and classroom support technician. The math department is too big of a program to be moved into the new STEM building.
The focus is not on more space but on providing students the best quality equipment and labs, according to Williams.
“The current facilities are adequate, but don’t really meet the needs of the volume for our classes.”
Bolke said the best thing about the new STEM building will be the opportunity for new equipment. “The [current] equipment has been maintained, so [it’s] fine. With the new building, we get new equipment, which is nice.”
“There’s roughly 1,200 pre-nursing students on campus and all of those students need to take our courses,” Bolke said.
According to Bolke, the Anatomy and Physiology class is one of the highest in demand because it is required for all health programs including pre-nursing, dental hygiene and medical radiography.
“It’s a balancing act. We’ll have the space, and if we can add faculty, we’ll be able to meet the demand,” Bolke said. The biggest benefit will be added lab sections.
Stephan agrees that the current equipment is sufficient, but that it is nearing the end of its life cycle and will need updating.
A STEM building groundbreaking celebration will be held Sept. 30 at the north end of the yellow parking lot, according to Chato Hazelbaker, the college’s chief communications officer.
Leó Washburn, The Independent’s news editor, contributed to this story.
