A New Home for Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Now a permanent part of the Lafayette landscape, Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center invites students and faculty representing divergent disciplines to join conversations about science and innovation.

It’s the home for studies in biology, computer science, and environmental science and studies, the Office of Sustainability, Bradbury Dyer, III ’64 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Daniel and Heidi ’91 Hanson Center for Inclusive STEM Education.

With state-of-the-art equipment and open, flexible labs and classrooms, Rockwell inspires learning and collaboration, and opens a literal window into experiencing the world in new, exciting ways.

The center, officially dedicated by the campus community Sept. 27, is also a model of energy efficiency and eco-friendly design, and a popular destination to grab a good cup of coffee or a salad topped with locally sourced ingredients.

The lead gift for the $75 million building was provided by Trustee Emeritus S. Kent Rockwell ’66.

May 11, 2018 Streams of biodegradable confetti marked the beginning of construction at the groundbreaking ceremony.
May 10, 2018 Students, faculty, staff, and trustees signed their names for posterity on a 10-foot I-beam (see far right). The beam is now visible in the Bradbury Dyer, III ’64 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the third floor of the Rockwell Center. Pictured are President Alison Byerly, S. Kent Rockwell ’66, and Ed Ahart '69, former chair of the Board of Trustees.
July 5, 2018 Construction reached its topping-out milestone, as the construction crew placed the final I-beam in the framework on the building’s top floor.
Aug. 26, 2019 Greeted by gleaming glass and the promise of further deepening Lafayette’s interdisciplinary connections, students, faculty, and staff settled into the new building.
Sept. 27, 2019 More than 450 students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, friends, and community leaders attended the grand opening.
”This magnitude of change is transformative in how we deliver education to our students. I think this will allow us to draw high-quality students and faculty and allow us to deliver higher-quality graduates to our society. I’m grateful to the Board of Trustees for their vision in this effort, to the faculty for its inspiration and its guidance, and particularly to the College administration for its effective execution of this project. That teamwork has made this unique and progressive Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center a reality for Lafayette’s campus, and I think we can be quite proud of that.  ” S. Kent Rockwell ’66