A collaborative headquarters for the sciences. A new home for all Whittier College students. A hub of research and scientific discovery, all on display thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass windows. And to top it all off, literally, a grand view of the Los Angeles area.
The renovated Science & Learning Center (SLC) is all of these things and more. Completed in September 2016, the new SLC inspires the innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum for which the College is already known, and creates a welcoming venue to educate the talented, diverse students attracted to Whittier. Through inventive architectural design reflecting our faculty’s commitment to shared learning and paired-teaching, the new building prepares leaders who – whether as professionals or engaged citizens – understand the pressing scientific issues of our time and possess the skills to find collaborative solutions.
The five-story building features laboratories for both teaching and research, including the Newsom Research Lab, the building’s largest oratory, and the Yao Yuan Sze Foundation Movement Laboratory, an innovative space where students explore the dynamics of physical movement. On the roof, the Suomi Lookout Deck offers breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the Whittier Hills, as well as a vantage point and home for astronomy students’ telescopes.
Blended offices, flexible labs, and shared lounges encourage students and their faculty to collaborate on their studies and research, reaching across disciplines in true Whittier spirit. Together, these spaces model the collaborative, boundary-less science education needed to train leaders now and into the future.
