Bossone: "The building speaks for itself"

By: Sumeet Patel

Posted: 3/4/05

The University unveiled the opening of the 150,000 square ft. multistory Edmund Bossone Research Enterprise Center at a formal dedication ceremony March 1.

The $37.5 million building, made possible by an initial $10 million grant from 1953 alumnus Edmund Bossone, will house a number of research facilities both of the College of Engineering and School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. The Center was also made possible by an $8 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as an additional $3 million in federal funding; the remainder was covered through private funding and donation.

"The Bassone Center brings together research from many disciplines under one roof," University President Constantine Papadakis said in his dedication remarks. "Since we acquired the College of Medicine, our faculty has been working diligently to realize the synergies offered by bringing together a great academic medical center and a great technological University. This was the dream of our trustees and this is why we took over MCP Hahnemann University."

The Center was designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners with the architectural support of Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates. Pei & Partners are well known for their design of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C., the John Hancock Tower in Boston and the restoration of the Louvre in Paris. The building's unique features include a 70 ft. high prism allowing for sunlight and a 5,100 square ft. terrace.

"You don't build a building like this for mediocres," Papadakis said. "I am completely delighted by the outcome of this project; it exceeded my every expectation.

When asked if the University of Pennsylvania would be jealous of the Center, Papadakis replied, "Of course! This building is a sure winner."

Although the Center was formally dedicated to Bossone and the University March 1, none of the buildings 48 teaching laboratories or 37 laboratory spaces are equipped with any research instrumentation. Only the newly renovated Commonwealth Hall will house student classrooms. The specific academic programs to occupy Bossone are still to be determined.

"Much of our equipment is one of a kind and not available anywhere else in the Greater Philadelphia area," Dean of the College of Engineering Seljuk Guceri said. "That's why we have very close collaboration with University of Pennsylvania since we share each other's facilities. That relationship also extends to high tech industry in the region."

The dedication ceremony itself began with a welcome from the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Barbara Spiro-Ryan, who will retire April 1 from the University. Remarks were also made by from Board of Trustees Chairman Joseph Jacovini followed by Bassone, who commented that "[the] building speaks for itself."

"This new facility breathes genius," Jacovini told the audience. "Drexel University will settle for nothing less than the best for our students, faculty and our academic programs. Make no mistake that this building will serve world class faculty and world class students."

The Center is only one solution to a growing problem of research space cited by Vice Provost of Research Bill Stephenson in the Feb. 23 issue of the Wall Street Journal.

"We're maxed out for research space," James Archibald, Senior Vice President of Health Sciences, told The Triangle. "The only way we are going to get more research dollars is by adding more research space. Development of the 12 acre Queen Lane lot has been a priority since the acquisition [of MCPHU]."

"We have to also look at our growth plan in terms of classrooms and office space accordingly," Interim Provost Ali Houshmand said. "We are currently looking into the acquisition of new buildings, renovation of new buildings or actually constructing new structures to make we have room for everything we do since research is only one component."

More Pictures of Bossone's Opening