Bucks County Community College Unveils New Science Building

Bucks County Community College officials opened the new $17.5 million science center Thursday at the main campus in Newtown Township.

Spanning two floors, the new science center is connected to the old Founders Hall, which used to house all of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes. Now, biology, chemistry and more will be taught in the new state-of-the-art science center.

The science center has 10 new laboratories including a biotechnology suite, which includes a main lab, a tissue culture room and an instrument room; two general biology labs; a microbiology lab; a general chemistry suite including a lab; a lecture room and computer lab; an organic chemistry suite including the lab; an instrument room and a computer lab; an introductory chemistry lab; two anatomy and physiology labs; and an environmental science lab.

In addition to the labs, the building holds prep areas for biology and chemistry, indoor and outdoor gathering areas and geothermal heating and cooling.

“One of the things we really spent a lot of time on in the front end was talking to faculty to find out what they needed,” said Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt, president of the community college.

According to Debra Geoghan, interim dean of STEM at the college, faculty are excited to move into the building and get started in their new labs.

“We think the students will be very excited and think this may help bring in some perspective students,” Shanblatt said.

“We recognize how important the STEM fields are, and that many jobs will and do require a background in STEM,” Shanblatt said.

According to college officials, about one third of the students at community college are STEM students. In addition, the community college has focused on growing their STEM offerings in the past few years.

The building won’t facilitate any new classes during the upcoming spring semester, but college officials are looking forward and are already planning a meteorology class for fall.

“We expect this building to be pretty full, morning to night,” Shanblatt said.

Ground broke in 2014 on the two-story, 43,000 square f00t building.