Smith College Breaks Ground on New Engineering Building

Smith College, the largest liberal arts college for women in the U.S., held a groundbreaking ceremony for Ford Hall, a new engineering and molecular sciences building on Friday, October 19, 2007.

Recently named "Hottest Women's College" by Newsweek-Kaplan College Guide, Smith continues to be a leader in science education, with one in four students majoring in the sciences, three times that of the national average. In 2000, Smith was the first women's college to start an engineering program, and in 2004, the Picker Engineering Program graduated the first class of all-women engineers. Since its inception, the program has expanded over 600 percent.

Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the new 140,000 gross square foot facility will help respond to the program's growth. It includes instructional and research laboratory space for over 40 researchers conducting interdisciplinary studies in engineering, chemistry, biology, computer science, and molecular biology. The facility also features a three and a half story, glass-enclosed atrium.

Expecting certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED?) facility at the silver level, the building incorporates a number of sustainable design initiatives, including a green roof, photo-voltaic panels, LED light fixtures, and low-flow water fixtures and toilets. The new building also acts as a learning tool by allowing students to access real-time data on facility energy and water consumption using a kiosk in the building lobby.

Construction is currently underway, and the facility is expected to be ready for the entering class of 2009. More information on Ford Hall and the Picker Engineering Program at Smith College can be found at their website, www.smith.edu.