PORT ANGELES — Maier Hall, Peninsula College’s newest building, will open its doors for a public grand opening celebration today at 2 p.m. and follow that with an inaugural concert in the facility’s performance hall.
The new 62,950-square-foot, $36 million building replaces four older buildings, including the original Maier Hall, a free-standing lecture hall.
“It was one of our long-term goals,” said Tom Keegan, Peninsula College president.
Collaboration
The collaboration between the college’s goal of teaching and learning and the architectural efforts of Walter Schacht of Schacht-Aslani Architects in Seattle shows throughout the building, Keegan said.
Today’s 2 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony will include speeches by Keegan, state Reps. Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger, and Schuyler Hoss, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Southwest Washington regional representative.
Guests are invited to take self-guided tours of the new facility immediately following the formal ceremonies.
“I’m proud of the work of the faculty and staff,” Keegan said.
“The staff has taken on this monumental task.”
Throughout the summer, the staff has moved hundreds of computers and thousands of pieces of other equipment from other buildings and from storage into the building to prepare it for students’ return to campus for the fall semester, he said.
Classes will open in the new building Monday.
A new art water feature outside of the building — “The Commons,” designed by Peter and Sue Richards — also will be dedicated today.
The water feature was made possible by the state Arts Commission, Keegan said.
Michael Sweney, a representative for the arts commission, will take part in the ceremonies.
Concert tonight
At 7 p.m., an inaugural concert will be held in the facility’s new 131-seat performance hall.
The performance hall is intended to create an intimate theater space for the experience of music, the spoken word and film.
Performers include the Peninsula College Jazz Ensemble and classical chamber musicians from the North Olympic Peninsula, featuring Fred Thompson on cello, Kristin Brye on piano, David Jones on clarinet and piano, and vocalist Robbin Eaves.
The building houses writing, math, computer and foreign language labs; a ground-floor ceramics lab and third-floor art studios; classrooms for courses in English, math, the social sciences and humanities; and faculty offices.
Maier Hall also has a number of sustainable features that include geothermal energy, daylight harvesting, natural ventilation, wetland restoration and an innovative moss roof.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
