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Beaver Chemistry Instructor Claudia Tanaskovic talks to a tour group in the chemistry lab.

Chemistry Instructor Claudia Tanaskovic shows off a state-of-the-art chemistry lab to members of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Credit: Cathy Benscoter
Michael Hay shows a tour group his chemistry equipment.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Michael Hay demonstrates his glove box to a tour group. The glove box allows Hay to conduct experiments in a controlled environment, making his research faster and more precise.
 

Credit: Cathy Benscoter
Instructor Ashu Kumar shows an IST classroom to a tour group.

Information Sciences and Technology Instructor Ashu Kumar explains how his students make use of the IST collaborative classroom, which includes a wall coated in Idea Paint.

Credit: Cathy Benscoter
A Lion Ambassador leads a group of alumni through the Michael Baker hallway.

Four Beaver Lion Ambassadors led tours throughout the renovated Michael Baker Building, with stops in the Maker Lab, the One Button Studio, the chemistry department and an IST collaborative classroom.

Credit: Cathy Benscoter

Beaver opens renovated Michael Baker Building

Penn State Beaver officially reopened the Michael Baker Engineering and Sciences Building on Friday (Sept. 9), welcoming guests to tour the facility after its year-long, $8.7 million renovation.

It was one of the worst buildings on the western campuses, and now it’s one of the best.

Penn State Beaver officially reopened the Michael Baker Engineering and Sciences Building on Friday (Sept. 9), welcoming guests to tour the facility after its year-long, $8.7 million renovation.

Among the guests at the event: the executive board of the Penn State University Alumni Association, the Beaver County Commissioners and executives from Michael Baker International. Michael Baker Jr. was an engineer and philanthropist who helped to establish the Beaver campus and served on the inaugural advisory board. His portrait hangs in the center of the building.

The renovation brought with it dozens of upgrades, including 97 new computers, 15 collaborative classrooms, 12 faculty offices, two student lounges, a One Button Studio and a Maker Lab.

The most noticeable upgrade, however, is in the lighting. New windows offer the once-dark building 80 percent more natural light.

And the upgrades aren’t finished. The building is scheduled to get a new roof next summer.