Choate Rosemary Hall Dedicates Lanphier Center for Mathematics and Computer Science

WALLINGFORD, Conn., March 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, March 27, Choate Rosemary Hall's Board of Trustees dedicated the new Cameron and Edward Lanphier Center for Mathematics and Computer Science. Presiding at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Michael J. Carr '76, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alex D. Curtis, Headmaster, lead donors Trustee Edward Lanphier '74 and his wife Cameron, and keynote speaker, Nicholas Negroponte '61, of the MIT Media Lab.

The new 34,000-square-foot center, designed by architects Pelli Clarke Pelli of New Haven, is the second building on campus designed to achieve LEED-certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Edward Lanphier, a member of the Choate Class of 1974 taught science at Choate from 1978 to 1980.  He met his wife, Cameron, when they were both on the Choate faculty; she taught mathematics. He went on to join the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and in 1995 founded Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. in Richmond, Calif.  She has been a math teacher at the Branson School in Ross, Calif., since 1988.

Located in the new center is Choate's i.d.Lab, "a mindset, space, and resource for the Choate community that provides a place for exploration and innovation."  It consists of three large rooms with movable furniture, easily accessible power, and ample bench space. In addition to mathematics, courses such as reverse engineering, design thinking, robotics, and architecture meet regularly in the i.d.Lab.

Designed for a LEED-Gold rating, both building systems and materials were chosen for sustainability. Locally produced natural, recycled-content, and high-performance materials were used.

In addition, light sensors monitor daylight and adjust lighting levels. These elements all work to help reduce the energy use of the Lanphier Center, which will use less than 35 percent of the energy of a conventional building.

Says Mr. Lanphier, "This will be a wonderful gathering place where ideas can be kicked around. Our hope is that the building will not only be a foundation for teaching mathematics and computer science, but that it will ultimately be a gathering place for students – like the Google campus or Stanford University campus – the kind of environments that generate passion and ideas."

"This generous contribution will allow us to continue our drive towards even greater excellence," says Dr. Curtis. "It offers a tremendous opportunity for future generations of Choate students to share their talents and realize their dreams."

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SOURCE Choate Rosemary Hall