BCCC’s New Science Building In Newtown Will Be A ‘Tremendous Advantage’

Bucks County Community College’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) offerings are only expected to improve once a $17 million science center opens at the Newtown Campus early next year, according to college President Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt.

On Thursday, the past met the future when Shanblatt unveiled plans to place a time capsule with wares of today inside the new science center that is currently mid-way through construction. The capsule will be placed early next year in the state-of-the-art science building and includes a student build flying quadrotor, a cell phone case and a model of an engine, all three items were either fully or partly created using a 3D printer.

More present day items will be added over the next several months, Shanblatt said.

The capsule will be placed in the building and is not to be opened for 50 years.

While the items were displayed Thursday on an old travel trunk that once belonged to George and Stella Elkins Tyler, whose former land the college sits on, the trunk was only used for display purposes.

Several dignitaries were in attendance at the event held in the Linksz Pavilion.

Chairman of the Bucks County Commissioners Robert Loughery spoke and cited the great investment that the college making to teach STEM, adding the courses will “lock-in potential for students.”

“This is a very exciting day and it will be more exciting when we can tour the actual building, Loughery said.

Shanblatt thanked the county and state for their funding that will help make the science building possible.

She noted the new STEM curriculum, including Neuroscience, will lead community college students to universities and eventually higher paying jobs that benefit the community.

Student Anna Snyder, who is studying Neuroscience and president of a on-campus STEM club for women, said she believes the new building along with an increased focus on STEM will be a “tremendous advantage” once she moves onto a university for further studies.

The science building’s many windows and new equipment will be a welcome addition to the Newtown Campus that serves students from around the county, said Lisa Angelo, dean of the STEM department at the college.

Along with the new building, the college is also renovating campus staple Founders Hall, which sits right next to the new building. The building’s old science labs will be used for healthcare studies and upgrades will be done throughout the facility, Shanblatt said.

The new science center is the last of several years of major capital projects the college has taken on at its campuses.