OT: Penn State's IST building to be renamed.

[BobPSU92]

See the link below. From the article:

"UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Information Sciences and Technology recently announced plans to rename the IST Building on the University Park campus to the Westgate Building, subject to final approval of the Facilities Naming Committee.

“The building will be renamed, consistent with the original vision for the building, which was to serve as a gateway to the West Campus,” said Andrew Sears, dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, in a note to faculty and staff on Friday (Sept. 16). “Conversations have been underway for nearly a year regarding changes that could be made to the building to better address issues of both identity and wayfinding.”"

http://news.psu.edu/story/435792/2016/11/04/ist-building-be-renamed-rooms-renumbered

In a related announcement of identification and wayfinding, it was revealed that Old Main will be renamed Corruptiongate Building.

 

[lionlurker]

Will this be named after Dambly? Peetz? Ira?

 

[91Joe95]

What, they couldn't find a donor to plaster their name on it? I guess donations really are down.

 

[LafayetteBear]

Get ready for Lubert Hall.

 

[razpsu]

Probably should rename the lasch building.

 

[Fizz1]

The name change makes me wonder what percentage of the building is now being used for the IST college. The decision to spend $$ on a new college was highly suspect IMHO.

 

[91Joe95]

The name change makes me wonder what percentage of the building is now being used for the IST college. The decision to spend $$ on a new college was highly suspect IMHO.

Come on now, the previous onsite facilities were a dump, even if they are still using them.

 

[step.eng69]

See the link below. From the article:

In a related announcement of identification and wayfinding, it was revealed that Old Main will be renamed Corruptiongate Building.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

“The building will be renamed, consistent with the original vision for the building, which was to serve as a gateway to the West Campus,” said Andrew Sears, dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, in a note to faculty and staff on Friday (Sept. 16). “Conversations have been underway for nearly a year regarding changes that could be made to the building to better address issues of both identity and wayfinding.”"

I'm having trouble seeing this as an enlightened decision.

First, you'd expect a building to be named after a major donor, or a major figure in PSU history. So, it misses the mark on that expectation

Second, what's the rationale on dividing the campus in to directional zones? I can see it with the dorms, but for the most part they're on the edges of campus. The classrooms/offices/labs are, for the most part, in the core of the campus. I'm not aware that PSU now has a West Campus, a North Campus, an East Campus, and a South Campus. Perhaps PIV can update things, but I really fail to see the need for such designations.

Third, this sounds like a committee decision. "Leaders from both colleges collaborated with a group of faculty to address visitor difficulties navigating the building. Room numbering and new signage to support wayfinding will be added throughout the building." Only a committee could meet and debate, and come up with the resolution that entrances should be labeled as:

1. Westgate Building – IST – College of Information Sciences and Technology

or

2. Westgate Building – EECS – School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

That is going to improve things for visitors? You have to be kidding. Imagine giving verbal instructions to a visitor that is wondering around, kind of lost, and trying to tell them to enter at one of the aforementioned entrances. Their eyes would gloss over halfway through the name of the entrance.

Oh well, it is what it is.

 

[BobPSU92]

Probably should rename the lasch building.

Or not.

 

[psu00]

It's pretty much a new(er) building, correct? So there are problems with 'identity and wayfinding'? Sounds like an architect issue. I'm waiting for it to be named after Lubert, Joyner, or Peetz. If there's any group that had trouble with identity and 'finding their way' it's those 3.

You want to see a good example of what is wrong with the PSU leadership? They've been discussing for nearly a year changing its name and improving "wayfinding". A year over that.

 

[Royal_Coaster]

My vote is for the Damblubert Building.