Opening of the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center

As future pirates walk around the campus, they will no longer see those greenish portable science classrooms located on Wilson field. Instead, what replaces them is the new Day Science & John Senuta Math Center which sits prominently in the North-East corner of the campus. With the start of the 2026-2027 school year, the new science building becomes officially in use. The Day Science & John Senuta Math Center is a three-story educational building with a large basement and exterior roof deck. Divided into the John Senuta Math Center and Day Science and Engineering Center, it is an ideal location for a STEM program for students ranging from 9th to 12th grade. 

In front of the building itself is a gently sloping landscape with a courtyard, which includes terraced seatwalls that will create a hub of student activities. In addition, with the significant bi-folding doors placed in the auditorium, students are welcomed to study together in nature, enjoying a truly immersive learning experience. Other remarkable features that the 38,000 square foot building encompasses include:

• Six math classrooms that cover math courses from algebra all the way to multivariable calculus

• Six science labs that included facilities designed for more sophisticated experiments

• Two lab rooms designated for physics courses

• An engineering makerspace

• A roof top astronomy platform

• And future built-out spaces for culinary teaching kitchen and a research project lab

One thing that sets the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center apart from the pre-existing science buildings is the academic possibilities it brings. This year, Stevenson’s science program just started to offer an independent science research course, taught and led by Rebecca Upjohn. According to the chair of the science department, Ian Haight, the new research course supports students who want to conduct independent research and provides students with excellent guidance and mentorship from Upjohn. Furthermore, students are encouraged to enter higher level science fairs. Last spring Upjohn accompanied and mentored Daniel Kim as he presented a research poster at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This opportunity to engage in research projects is crucial, as it allows students to develop creativity and a scientific mindset that would be extremely beneficial in college. In addition, the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center also enabled teachers to do activities that were once impossible to perform in the old portable buildings.Haight pointed out that in the temporary science buildings, “ activities like heating up acids orperforming experiments that produce fumes were impossible due to safety concerns–fearing that the chemicals would build up in the classroom.” Now, with tools like fume hoods, propane hook ups, and ventilating snorkels, teachers are able to extend scientific labs to a wider range of topics relating but not limited to gas laws, pressure changes, and the impact of elevation change on biological processes.  

For the majority of the students, except the freshmans that were lucky enough to display their capstone projects in the science building, there is a high anticipation towards the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center. By the spring semester of last academic year, the building was no longer covered by a construction veil; instead, when students walked to other academic buildings, they could see the rapid construction of the building. Although many students had already viewed the building’s exterior, it’s still shocking for most to see its interior when they first walked into the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center. Like what sophomore Erica You points out, it was exciting when she first saw the engineering basement during her Capstone presentation, but even more exciting now since she is able to utilize it. However, the sense of excitement isn’t limited to students. For many teachers who have been teaching for a long time in the previous classrooms, the transition to the new science building is significant. Mr. Haight pointed out that one difference he noticed the most is simply the size of the building. Sometimes, he joked, it almost feels like there is ‘too much room’. 

Although it is still too early to conclude the long term impact of the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center on students, the building had already significantly altered the STEM program. Instead of separating science, math, and engineering by physically dividing the departments, the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center brought them together under one roof top. Mr. Haight hopes this proximity will foster collaboration between the STEM courses. 

In other words, the opening of the Day Science & John Senuta Math Center represents more than a shift in merely learning environments. Its new laboratories, research opportunities, and shared collaborative spaces together reflect the potentiality in what the STEM program could become. Just like what the director of facilities and capital projects Chris Madill described, “The Day Science & John Senuta Math Center isn’t just a building; it’s a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students. It will inspire curiosity, foster innovation, and prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future. “