Scenes from the Linus Pauling Science Center grand opening

(Video courtesy of Graham Kislingbury, Mid-Valley Newspapers)

We were there when ground was broken in September 2009.  Now, just over two years later, it was our great pleasure to attend the grand opening of the magnificent Linus Pauling Science Center, new home to the Linus Pauling Institute and to components of the Department of Chemistry. At 105,000 square feet, the Pauling Science Center is the largest academic building on the Oregon State University campus.  It is also the most expensive, costing $62.5 million to construct.

In addition to the video above, the Corvallis Gazette-Times did a great job of covering the opening (here’s one story focusing on the building and another on the event).  Below is a gallery of photographs that the blog took in documenting a memorable day.

North view of the Pauling Science Center

Light painting by Stephen Knapp, one of three in the building.

Temporary exhibit built by the Special Collections and Archives Research Center, OSU Libraries

Lenticular art installation by Chris Dean, one of two in the building.

Chemistry students hard at work.

Signed beam commemorating the groundbreaking in September 2009.

View of the Linus Pauling Institute office space and, at the far end, break room. Another Knapp light painting is installed on the left.

A third light painting by Stephen Knapp.

Series of acrylic paintings based on the crystal structure of vitamin C. Created by Corvallis artist Bill Shumway.

Lab equipment housed in the Pauling Science Center.

View from the break area, Linus Pauling Science Center. This view looks west toward the edge of campus.

Staircase connected the third and fourth floors of the building, adjacent to a light painting by Stephen Knapp.

OSU President Ed Ray.

Keynote speaker Linus Pauling, Jr.

A portion of the crowd assembled for the grand opening, many of them enjoying refreshments served at Ava’s Cafe.

The first floor laboratories are built in “fish bowl” style, so passersby can observe science in action.

A peek inside one of the fish bowl laboratories, still being set up.

Main entrance to the Linus Pauling Science Center.

View of the Linus Pauling Institute laboratory space, a vast area built with collaboration in mind.

Another vantage point on the LPI’s new lab space.

Home to many future discoveries…