Douglas Weldon, the Stone Professor of Psychology, presented on Jan. 21 at the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) in Washington, D.C. He was joined by architects Leila Kamal and Toni Loiacano of EYP Architecture and Engineering in a session titled “Ten Years Later – Did the Science Center Make a Difference?”
The presentation included a report of institutional data showing subsequent increases in number of science majors and the number of students participating in summer research after the opening of the Taylor Science Center. The discussion included the role of the building in serving the entire campus.
Weldon was the coordinator of Science Curriculum and Facilities for the Science Center project, and Kamal was involved in the design of the research and teaching laboratories. She is now vice president of design and expertise at EYP Architecture and Engineering and leads the research effort to examine the institutional impact of new science buildings. Loiacano, who specializes in science teaching and research facility design, works with Kamal on the STEM research projects.
Assistant Dean of Faculty for Institutional Research and Assessment Gordon Hewitt provided data for the presentation. The Taylor Science Center was completed in 2005. In 2011, the building was dedicated in honor of Edward ’46 and Virginia Taylor, who established Hamilton’s largest financial aid endowment and committed funds for faculty research in the sciences and new arts facilities.
