Grand Opening for Engineering and Science Research Building
Contact: Nick Houtman, Dept. of Public Affairs, 207-581-3777, houtman@maine.edu
ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine College of Engineering and Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology (LASST) will celebrate the grand opening of the new $16 million Engineering and Science Research Building on campus at 1:30 p.m. October 22. Supported by funding passed by Maine voters in 2002, the ESRB hosts laboratories and offices for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and LASST.
A highlight of the new building is a 3,500 square-foot clean room for research and development in the areas of nanotechnology, microfabrication, sensors, and biotechnology. Research progress in such areas has led to the establishment of six spin-off companies in Maine in recent years. The clean room is the only such facility in northern New England and is one of approximately 25 university-based clean rooms of its kind in the U.S.
The Pizzagalli Construction Company of South Burlington, Vermont was the contractor for the 51,000 square-foot building which was designed by the architectural firm of Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott of Boston. In addition to laboratories and offices, the building includes a new Arthur St. John Hill Auditorium named for the professor who served ECE from 1918 to 1964.
Interim University of Maine President Robert Kennedy will welcome guests. Speaking at the grand opening will be four UMaine graduates, a representative of Maine state government and UMaine officials. Among the graduates are Stephen Swan, process engineering manager for National Semiconductor, Inc., and Mark Waite, president of Launch Momentum, LLC and vice-president of Stillwater Scientific Instruments.
Swan graduated from UMaine in 1982 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. His expertise is in the area of semiconductor device technology, process control and operations management. He holds an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix and is an author on two patents. He lives in Windham, Maine.
Mark Waite received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology with a minor in Business Administration from UMaine in 1982. He co-founded Launch Momentum with Dan Martin to help the Maine technology community transform ideas into successful businesses. Waite’s role at Launch Momentum and Stillwater Scientific Instruments is to evaluate potential business opportunities, and provide strategic business development and marketing expertise that will propel company growth.
Representing state government will be Jack Cashman, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
Waldo Libbey, ECE professor emeritus and a graduate of the University of Maine Class of 1943, will speak on the legacy of Arthur St. John Hill.