A photographic print of Springfield College’s science center, the Clarence and Grace Schoo Friendship Hall, known today as the Schoo-Bemis Science Center. We believe this photo was taken in 1961, during the final stages of construction. A pile of debris and dirt is in front of the back corner of the building. A new science building became top priority under the leadership of Springfield College president Glen Olds, and construction was completed in September 1961. Estimated cost of the building was between $350,000 to $400,000. Architectural plans proposed laboratories and classrooms for chemistry and physics. The majority the funding for the new facility was provided by Clarence J. Schoo, founder of General Fibre Box Co. of West Springfield. Although the building was in use since its completion in September of 1961, it was not formally dedicated until October 26, 1963 as the Clarence and Grace Schoo Friendship Hall. Under the leadership of President Flynn, “Leadership for the 21st Century: the $40 million campaign for Springfield College” was launched in the spring of 2005. It is through this campaign that the money was raised for the $5 million dollar renovation that combined the old Bemis Hall, now Hickory Hall, with Schoo Hall, creating a modern, state-of-the-art Science Center housing the disciplines of Math, Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Renovations started in May of 2006 and were completed in January of 2007 when the building, now named the Schoo-Bemis Science Center, was opened to students. An official dedication was conducted on September 26, 2007.
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