Education and Clinic Wing Dedication CeremonyJanuary 31, 2006 10 AM
h how far we've come! Does anyone remember that our long awaited building
renovation project began in late March of 2004? The
official Groundbreaking Ceremony was May 5th — and a very big
deal it was, with 100 invited guests and dignitaries, tents and ceremonial
hardhats all around. Then came the inevitable construction delays as the
June '05 completion date had to be pushed back time and again. This led to
numerous "Alka Seltzer moments" for Dean Evans. But from this vantage
point, those moments are but fading memories. And now that the new wing is finally complete, it
proudly stands as a jewel in the crown of Auburn University.
Seeing it Through
Certainly, the new Education and Clinic Wing was a most ambitious project. But no one could have anticipated the building process would be as complex as it turned out to be, or that it would take nearly two years to complete. It puts one in mind of the bride and groom who are so deliriously happy on their wedding day. Unbeknownst to them, they are already on a collision course with that inevitable "bump in the road" where they realize the honeymoon is over and real life begins. Of course, that is most often when love deepens and partners grow together so that they wouldn't think of giving up on each other. And so it is with the trials and tribulations of any new building project. The Education and Clinic Wing is no exception. The unexpected was always just around the next corner. But like the wedding couple, the HSOP leadership remained committed and excited to see the project through to the end. Well worth the wait, the Education and Clinic Wing is a truly impressive building inside and out.
Dedication Ceremony
On January 31st, the HSOP faculty, staff, students, and special guests celebrated completion of the new wing with a Dedication Ceremony. The ceremony was held in the new Tiered Auditorium where there is not a bad seat in the house. Approximately 150 invited guests attended, including various alumni, pharmacy representatives, the architects and builders, students, faculty, emeriti, donors, and numerous media representatives. Former dean Sam Coker was also in attendance, as well as Jim Walker, whose father's name, W. W. Walker, graces the Walker Building.
Dean Evans presided over the ceremony. Further remarks were given by Darrell Childress, president of the Pharmacy Student Council; Mac Jones, Chairman of the Dean's Advisory Council and Chairman of the Campaign Committee; James I. Harrison, Jr.; Edward R. Richardson, Interim President of Auburn University; and Mrs. Virginia Thompson of the Auburn University Board of Trustees.
Mr. Harrison, with a large contingent of his family members in the audience, shared a touching story concerning his father James I. Harrison, Sr. He introduced Col. Arthur Wilkerson, III (Ret.), the grandson of the man who was responsible for Mr. Harrison's father finishing school. His father had dropped out of school in the 11th grade to work two jobs. One was with Dr. Arthur Wilkerson who saw the potential in the Senior Harrison and told him that if he'd finish high school, he'd pay his way through pharmacy school at Auburn. As most of us know, James I. Harrison, Sr. went on to create a highly successful pharmacy business, and the Auburn pharmacy school he once attended as a student now bears his name.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
After the speeches, the dignitaries gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony in the beautiful, terrazzo floored atrium illuminated by skylights three floors up. A reception followed in the flex auditorium which was designed to serve various functions — from classroom setups to presentation events to catered receptions. Then guests went on a tour of the rest of the building which included the new state-of-the-art Pharmaceutical Care Center, the redesigned reception area, the comfortable student lounge overlooking Thach Avenue and the stadium, and some of the 44 new student team rooms, each with a plasma display screen.
Technology, Technology, Technology
As beautiful as the new wing is, visitors also marveled at the high tech features built into the system— advancements that are sure to help elevate the School into national prominence in pharmacy education. The primary goal for this technological advancement is to facilitate communication among faculty and students. Actually, the HSOP has been leaning in this direction for some time. All students are required to have a laptop computer for coursework. We already had the reputation for being among the "most wired" Schools on campus, and we were one of the first Schools at Auburn to go wireless.
Our current situation brings even more technological advances. For starters, we are the first School on campus to have full videoconference capability in every teaching environment. Polycom videoconferencing (VC) hardware and software allows students and faculty to gather in virtual meeting rooms in order to share ideas, solve problem-based learning case studies, collaborate on projects, share files, etc. Off-site faculty will also get new VC hardware through GFE (General Fee Equipment) grant money provided by the Provost's Office. The off-site faculty will connect to student teams for PPE (Pharmacy Practice Experience), facilitation, and general course work, saving travel time and money.
The Starbak Integrated Network Video (INV) system allows students and faculty to digitally record any videoconference, classroom, or individual presentation on demand from any group room or auditorium. The system provides for live or on-demand streaming of the VC or presentation over the web. It will be used for the HSOP satellite program when it becomes a reality, allowing for synchronous (real time) and/or asynchronous (on-demand) teaching. When fully implemented, it will also provide a means to present live and/or on-demand web casts for Continuing Education programs.
The Hitachi TagmaStore AMS200 provides 1.5 Terabytes (1,500,000,000,000 bytes!) of in-house storage space for digital files, including documents, databases, presentations, videoconference calls, etc., and will be tied to the Starbak system for archival and backup needs.
And finally, the TurningPoint Interactive Classroom system allows faculty to instantaneously poll a class on course topics, take role, or get feedback for assessment.
Slides & Website:
Don't overlook our slide show of photos from the dedication ceremony. For a virtual tour of the building and a video time-lapse presentation of the building from start to finish, we invite you to visit the renovation section of our Web site: http://www.pharmacy.auburn.edu/renovation/renovation.htm
For all you technophiles out there, contact HSOP's IT Master Specialist Barry McConatha for details on the amazing array of hardware and peripherals installed in the ECW.