Those who have returned on campus this year have likely seen the giant hole in place of what was once the Lindsay Science building and the giant barriers surrounding its construction site. The construction is estimated to finish sometime in 2026, meaning that the class of 2025 will not be able to experience the new facility during their time here at Stevenson, whereas the class of 2026 and all subsequent classes will have the chance to experience all of its math, science, and robotic courses.
The new science building will house three floors, making it much bigger than the 50-year-old Lindsay Science building, which only contained one floor. The new science building is a part of Stevenson’s “Remarkable Stevenson” project that aims to support “transformative projects that will shape the future of Stevenson students for generations to come,” according to the Stevenson website. This project, as of September 2024, has amassed $41 million dollars so far, with an aim to achieve funding of $60 million dollars by 2026.
While it may seem unfortunate that current seniors will not be able to experience the new science buildings, the temporary science building, which was built on Wilson Field over the summer, is considered an upgrade from the old Lindsay Science Building. The temporary science buildings are a collection of six classrooms stationed on the left side of Wilson field, close to the Douglas parking lot and the Wilson and Silverado dorms.
I find the new science building to be an upgrade from the demolished Lindsay Science building. As a resident of Wilson, the shorter distance to the science building means that classes are quicker to reach, which also means that I do not have to keep my books with me throughout the day, as right before class I can go back to my room to collect the materials that I need.
However, this could also act as a potential downside to the temporary science building because the distance between Talbot and Rosen, where most classes convene, is now much farther than the original science building. This could cause tardiness for students who have to travel between the two buildings. However, this is not likely, as Stevenson’s course schedule includes a break in between each class, providing adequate time to get from one place to another. According to Ted Yang, a current sophomore living in the Silverado dorm, there is “definitely [preference for] the temporary science building.” He notes that the temporary science building “is much cleaner in comparison to the old science building,” but that it lacks bathroom facilities.
While the lack of bathroom facilities may seem like a major fault, this caveat is one that is easily avoidable; boarding students can return to the dorms that are in close proximity, while day students can use nearby bathrooms in the gym. If those distances seem too far, students have the option of using the bathroom before class, which is realistic as the passing period between classes usually ranges from 25 to 45 minutes on normal schedule days.
Though the original Lindsay Science building provided adequate classrooms for Stevenson students, the temporary science building is an improvement due to its better cleanliness and close proximity to dorms. This, however, does not discount the importance of the old science building. The Lindsay Science Building has provided science classrooms for Stevenson students for nearly fifty years, and has undoubtedly played an impact on the trajectory of Stevenson, providing students and teachers alike with happy memories that reflect how Stevenson strives for academic excellence.
Comments