Nazareth College is celebrating the opening of Peckham Hall, home to the Integrated Center for Math and Science. The new $30 million building, named after lead donors Larry and Nancy Peckham, will play an instrumental role for Nazareth students to receive the very best in math and science education, enabling the College to increase the number of students who pursue majors in science and math fields, as well as those who pursue careers as health and human services professionals and teachers of math and science.
"Many studies from government, business and education underscore the pressing need for more students who are trained in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields," said Nazareth College President Daan Braveman. "Nazareth College is taking a step towards addressing this need with the formal opening of Peckham Hall. We will be able to expand our programs for students interested in STEM fields while also preparing the future science and math teachers and health care professionals who will serve our region for years to come. Peckham Hall will greatly benefit the College, the Rochester community, and the region beyond.
Braveman welcomes New York State Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks (R-Webster) as part of the opening celebration. The funds raised for the $30 million Peckham Hall include major gifts from lead donors Larry and Nancy Peckham; Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield; Zeke and Jane Duda; Chester & Dorris Carlson Charitable Trust; Tom and Colleen Wilmot; Louise Woerner and Don Kollmorgen; and Paul and Judy Linehan. The remainder of the funding for the Integrated Center for Math and Science came from a partnership of private donors, business and government funds.
The 74,000 square foot building was designed by Burt Hill and SWBR Architects, and it is under review to become the first LEED certified building in Pittsford. It was designed to meet U.S. Green Building Council LEED silver rating. Peckham Hall contains state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms along with the latest available technology to allow Nazareth to increase its programs that focus on applied science and math.
Nazareth College is committed to promoting sustainability across campus and to the community. From the design phrase through construction, and on a continued operational basis, Peckham Hall has promoted environmentally responsible choices that include green construction materials, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and energy efficiency, water efficient landscaping, and a healthy internal work environment.
Nazareth offers degrees in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, environmental science, mathematics, toxicology, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, and pre-professional programs (pre-med, pre-vet, pre-dental). This fall, Nazareth began to offer a degree in toxicology. "The addition of toxicology to our science majors is an example of what the enhanced learning spaces in Peckham Hall will allow us to do," said Deb Dooley, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "Over the next few years, we will continue to broaden our major offerings in the applied sciences in order to meet the increasing demands in these professional fields."
The new Peckham Hall features:
74,000 gross square feet.
Classrooms and lab lecture rooms that offer state-of-the-art technology.
20 labs to serve biology, anatomy, chemistry, physics, math, computing and ecology.
Collaboration spaces for student and faculty research.
Two "green roof" gardens.
A greenhouse that features three environments — desert, sub-tropical, and temperate. It will grow plants for study and research, for community outreach, and for showing teachers how to use plants to enrich a math/science curriculum.
It is under review to become the first LEED certified building in Pittsford.
Julie Long, Nazareth Chief Public Relations Officer: (585) 389-2456; jlong2@naz.edu
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.