Engineering Tech Building Dedication Planned

The public is invited, along with Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College faculty, staff and students, to attend a dedication ceremony for Fairmont State's new Engineering Technology Building.

A ribbon cutting event is being planned for 2 p.m. Friday, May 9. Tours of the building will be offered by student guides. Parking will be available in the parking garage. The building dedication is generously sponsored by Thrasher Engineering, Inc.

"The Engineering Technology Building is an outstanding addition to the Fairmont State University campus," said Dr. Anthony F. Gilberti, Dean of FSU's College of Science and Technology. "These facilities offer contemporary equipment and interactive classroom technology to aid in the instruction of our college students. The design and open space areas for student research will serve us well as we continue to prepare graduates to enter science, engineering and technology careers."

Construction began in June 2006 on the new $15 million building. The project involved extensive renovation of the existing two-story Technology Wing of Wallman Hall. Two floors and about 40,000 square feet have been added to the existing building, which has 40,000 square feet. Landau Building Company was the general contractor for the new building.

The facility houses programs for drafting/design engineering technology, graphics technology and mechanical, civil and electronics engineering technology and occupational safety. It features two large lecture rooms, which are used by multiple departments, and about 12 smaller laboratory classrooms. The building opened for classes in January.

The College of Science and Technology has invited the campus community and the public to submit papers describing their predictions about the future of technology. Papers will be stored in a time capsule in a safe at WesBanco in Fairmont for 20 years. WesBanco is donating space to store the time capsule. In 2028, the time capsule will be opened, and those who submitted papers will be invited back to campus for a rededication of the Engineering Technology Building. These people will be asked to share their submitted predictions of the future and participate in a series of activities with students and faculty.