Newswise — Defining the future of science education and research on its campus, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) President Dr. Philip P. Gerbino, was joined today by alumnus Robert L. McNeil Jr. and USP Chairman of the Board of Trustees Delbert S. Payne in a dedication ceremony for the McNeil Science and Technology Center (McNeil STC). The ceremony and luncheon preceded a special symposium, Shaping Science in the 21st Century: Foundations from the Past, Pillars for the Future, in the AstraZeneca auditorium located in the McNeil STC.
"The McNeil Science and Technology Center is a world-class science facility in every respect," Gerbino said. "But perhaps most importantly, it is a structural representation of this University's commitment, as well as that of its benefactors, to advance science, inspire young minds, and conduct research for the benefit of mankind."
The McNeil Science and Technology CenterThe 78,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility rises three stories behind a brick, metal and glass façade that houses laboratories, classrooms, and lecture space. The departments of biological sciences, bioinformatics, and math/physics/computer science call the McNeil STC home. By providing resources, space and opportunity, the building will support the transition of the campus to one with a focus on student learning and to one that is committed to research. The research laboratories, each with advanced technology, and ample prep and support spaces, will substantially increase the capacity for faculty and students to perform research-based scholarship. The building will enable USP to increase faculty-faculty; student-student; and faculty-student interaction and has already become a focal point and gathering place on campus.
"One of the first things you notice when you approach the building, is how welcoming it is. I have been delighted to hear faculty members say, 'It's a building where you go in and students are sitting there because they want to be there,'" Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Barbara Byrne said. "It gives us wonderful classroom and laboratory teaching facilities that we did not have before. The building is tangible evidence of our commitment to increasing the research that faculty and students at USP produce. About a quarter of the building is dedicated to research, and the research facilities are truly state of the art. This is a building for our strategic initiatives--student centered learning and living, and productive research. It is a building that transforms the campus."
Visitors to the $33 million building, which is situated on Woodland Ave. at South 43rd Street, are greeted by a central, two-story commons, in which students can relax or connect wirelessly to the Internet. The commons is graced with a curved, two-story wall of glass that offers views of the quad, Woodland Avenue, and Griffith Hall. One of the main features of the first floor is the 400-seat auditorium that features automated state-of-the-art visual technology.
The building was designed to distinguish between teaching and research spaces. The McNeil STC includes 48 offices for faculty and staff, and work spaces for 36 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Eight teaching laboratories for use in biology and physics are spread throughout the building. In addition, a 20-seat bioinformatics lab, replete with a networked iMac computer at each work station, joins four other six-seat, computer-dedicated research areas with corresponding space for two Beowulf Super Computers to help comprise part of the Cephalon Bioinformatics suite.
The SupportersSupport was provided by AstraZeneca, Cephalon and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. who have made unrestricted gifts to the University for the building. In recognition of their generosity, naming rights have been granted for spaces within the science and technology center.
The center itself is named after an esteemed and longtime friend of USP, Robert L. McNeil Jr., whose support for his alma mater began nearly 15 years ago when he founded the Class of 1938 Scholarship Fund. His dedication and support for the University have continued with both academic and athletic philanthropy. A donor, along with his father and brother, of the Robert L. McNeil Sr. Graduate Study and Research Center, as well as the namesake McNeil Athletic Fields, McNeil has had a profound impact on many generations of USP students.
"USP was the foremost pharmacy school of its time when I was a student there, and I am pleased and proud today to lend my support to its important mission," said McNeil.
A member of the USP Board of Trustees from 1961 to 1968, McNeil received an honorary doctor of science degree in 1970 and was inducted into the USP Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. McNeil was affiliated with McNeil Laboratories for 30 years, retiring in 1965 after having served as chairman and chief executive officer. Under his leadership, McNeil Laboratories introduced Tylenol in 1955.
McNeil announced in his remarks at the dedication that he was endowing a research professorship at the University. He also contributed to the University's J.W. England Library a first edition copy of the London Pharmacopoeia, the first medical text published in the colonies.
ConstructionThe planning and design of the McNeil STC began eight years ago. USP's faculty and staff, including Capital Program Management, facilitated the programming, design, and construction process. The project came to fruition under Craig S. Spangler AIA of Ballinger Architects, Philadelphia, Pa., as well as numerous other architects, engineers, landscape artists, planners, estimators and construction managers. Skanska USA Building, Inc. was the construction management firm.
The building is situated on land formerly occupied by the original Breyers Ice Cream factory, which closed its operation in the mid 1990s. On September 10, 1997, Unilever Corporation, the parent company of Breyers, transferred the site to USP and the building was razed shortly after. USP broke ground for the McNeil STC on September 8, 2004, with total construction time taking 18 months.
The McNeil STC shares the site with the Athletic/Recreation Center (ARC), which celebrated its grand opening on September 9, 2003. The 78,000-square-foot ARC provides USP students with exercise and practice space for varsity and intramural sports, as well as general recreational facilities. The addition of the two buildings has helped to transform the USP campus on the south side of Woodland Avenue.
SymposiumFollowing the building dedication, USP was honored to welcome five distinguished alumni who held an interactive panel discussion on the topic of Shaping Science in the 21st Century: Foundations from the Past, Pillars for the Future. The symposium discussed the impact of science education and research in the 21st century, including thoughts on what will be necessary to be a leader in 21st century science and what are the critical components of education for scientists of the future. Dr. Elinor H. Cantor, co-owner and president of CJ Resources, Inc., an executive search firm, moderated the panel, which will included:
Dr. Leonard S. Jacob, who held the title of worldwide vice president of pharmaceutical development at GlaxoSmithKline; and was the founder, chairman, and CEO of the former InKine Pharmaceutical Co.;
Dr. Kenneth W. Kinzler, a pioneer in human cancer genetics; and professor of oncology and director of the Ludwig Center for Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics at Johns Hopkins University;
Dr. Michael S. Wolfe, the 1984 recipient of the American Chemical Society Commencement Award and associate professor of neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School. He is also the founder of the Laboratory for Experimental Alzheimer Drugs; and
Dr. Susan Morine, the 1998 recipient of the Martin and Karen Gibbs Award in biology and chemistry who is completing her residency at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia is a private, coeducational institution founded in 1821 as Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the first college of pharmacy in North America. Comprising four colleges across a broad range of majors, USP specializes in educating students for rewarding careers through its undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in the health and related sciences.
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