Blinn College District celebrated the new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Innovation Building, on which Vaughn is the construction manager-at-risk, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 27. Faculty, students, community members, and stakeholders gathered at the event which Blinn College District also live streamed through their YouTube channel. Highlights from the event are in the following video:
The three-story 72,000 SF steel structure facility provides 14 classrooms, 23 administrative offices, five science prep rooms, and an 18,900 SF space for 14 laboratories. Through this innovation center, students gain hands on experience using equipment for virtual reality, robotics, soldering, smart devices, and metal fabrication. The second floor features biology laboratories and a health science suite. The third floor contains laboratory space for chemistry and organic chemistry, microbiology, anatomy, and physiology.
Blinn Chancellor Mary Hensley, Texas Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst, and several Blinn College dignitaries spoke at the event. Mary Hensley said, “This facility is one the largest buildings on the Blinn College-Brenham campus, which has not had a new academic building since 2011. From computer technology and cyber security to engineering and healthcare, Blinn’s talented faculty will use this facility to train students in the careers that define our future.”
Photo courtesy of Joshua Blaschke, KWHI News.