New Pomona College Science Building to Open in 2015

All images courtesy of Pomona College

Construction of Pomona College's new 75,000 square-foot Millikan Science Hall is ahead of schedule, with the building slated for completion in mid-2015.  The project, imagined as a new local landmark, was originally scheduled to open next Fall.  When complete, the low-rise structure will house the school's astronomy, mathematics and physics departments.

Copper panels are currently being added to the exterior of the building's planetarium dome, while ceramic tiles and windows are being installed on other parts of the facility.

Millikan Hall, designed by San Francisco-based architecture firm EHDD, will include: a domed digital planetarium; an outdoor physics lab; a two-story atrium; a remote observation room for Pomona's one-meter telescope at NASA's JPL Table Mountain facility; machine, wood and metal shops; a colloquium room with eating for 80 to 100 people; a 50-seat classroom and 16 physics teaching and research labs, in addition to classrooms and study spaces.  Matt Construction is the contractor for the project, which also entails a renovation of the adjacent Andrews Science Hall.

Pomona College's Gorgeous Studio Art Hall to Open Saturday

Image credit: Pomona College

Head out to Claremont this Saturday, October 11th, as Pomona College officially dedicates its stunning new Studio Art Hall.  The 35,000 square foot facility, constructed for approximately $29 million, will house multiple studios, student galleries, and the offices of the Pomona College Art Department.

Designed by the award-winning Kulapat Yantrasast of wHY Architecture, the two-story edifice is highlighted by a soaring wood-beam roofline which mimics the slopes of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains.  The Studio Art Hall is based on a village model, with a layout that is structured to maximize interactions between students, faculty and staff as they move through studios and public space.  Floor-to-ceiling glass walls further emphasize this transparent, collaborative atmosphere, while also providing the building's interior with natural light and panoramic views of the surrounding campus.

This Saturday's event will be curated by Mark Allen, founder of Machine Project and fhair of the Pomona College Art Department.  Festivities will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the formal dedication of the Studio Art Hall at 370 North Columbia Avenue in Claremont.  Afterwards, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of live events.  Listen to Georgian polyphonic singing in the glow of a darkroom safelight.  Explore a Minecraft version of the new building.  For more information on the upcoming celebration, please visit the Pomona College website.