There seem to be a lot of happy pharmacy students on the west side of campus these days.
Many of them are lounging in slick, new booths and shiny, metal chairs while waiting for their next class outside of Apoth?? Caf?? in the pharmacy building.
Come to think of it, just about everyone there'including visitors and staff'looks highly pleased. No, the school of pharmacy is not handing out free drug samples. People are walking high for other reasons.
Last Friday, UW-Madison's School of Pharmacy celebrated the opening of its much- anticipated $45 million building, Rennebohm Hall near UW-Hospital.
The building, which has been open since July, boasts high-tech teaching facilities and state-of-the-art research labs.
'This building has become the center focus for the west end of campus. It's by far the most modern teaching facility of its kind,' said Melvin Weinswig, dean of the School of Pharmacy.
Chamberlain Hall, the previous location for the pharmacy school, had become cramped and unsafe over the years, according to Weinswig. That sentiment has been shared with countless pharmacy students.
'The new building was definitely needed. There wasn't any space to do anything in the old one,' said Jennifer George, a second-year pharmacy student.
Marcus Hill, a pre-pharmacy student, also agreed. 'It's much better. I can't wait to get into the school [of pharmacy]. It's worth it. Everything they've hyped up about the building is true.'
In fact, much of the building was designed with students in mind. Lockers line the first floor and laboratories have been set-up to reflect the pharmaceutical industry's changing needs so that when students graduate they will have the necessary job skills.
'The technology is up to par,' said first-year pharmacy student Bill Blaser.
The modern lecture halls highlight the building's new technology. Every student's spot in the classroom is hard-wired for laptop hook-ups and is connected to the professor's main computer system. This allows for 'interactive exams' where students can take tests simultaneously via these new connections.
As Weinswig explained, 'It'll be something like you'd see on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire,' where they have these hand-held devices and they all can plug in their answers.'
But this building was also designed with researchers in mind.
Weinswig credits the new facility with enticing sought-after researchers to come to UW-Madison.
'This building has definitely assisted Wisconsin in attracting some excellent scientists. We've gotten every single person we've gone after in the last two years,' Weinswig said.
'Because some of these researchers bring in large staffs, it is almost like they are bringing in their own small businesses,' Weinswig said.
'It's great for Wisconsin and great for Wisconsin's economy. This building has made it attractive to want to become a part of the Wisconsin team,' Weinswig said.
