The New View of KSU

Thursday’s ceremony took place in the atrium of the new building, which ties into the existing science and computer science buildings. Gary McNay, with the Perkins + Will architecture firm, said the Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building uses natural lighting and a chilled beam heating and air conditioning system. The “green” technology is intended to save $170,000 per year over a standard building. Dr. Mark R. Anderson, dean of the 2,700-student college of science and math, said KSU has been looking to expand its science building since the 1990s but didn’t break ground on the structure until May 2011. He added that the new facility was one of the features that helped lure him from the University of Colorado Denver this summer, and he expects other faculty and prospective students to be similarly attracted. “There’s no difference between the education you can get here and at Georgia Tech,” Anderson said. “If somebody wants to major in biology or chemistry, they would have the same opportunity here.” The new building will be used with KSU’s two new master of science degree programs, one for integrative biology, which started this fall, and the other for chemical sciences, which starts in fall 2013. While students won’t use the new science building for lab classes until the spring 2013 semester, some professors started performing research there a few weeks ago. Assistant biology professor Dr. Marcus Davis, who studies prehistoric fish to help find ways to prevent arthritis in humans, said he is looking forward to using the building’s new confocal microscope. “It’s an impressive piece of equipment,” he said. “It’s something used at a major research institution. It allows us to probe deeper into cells to see how genes are developing, to ask the type of questions we couldn’t ask before.” Dr. Jared Taglialatela, also an assistant biology professor, likes the communal atmosphere in the new building, which includes the atrium that will soon have its own coffee shop. “It’s nice, the way it’s been done with the open space,” he said of the state-funded building. “One of the big things is to foster collaboration. To have people from different subcultures come together is going to be important moving forward.” Thursday’s ceremony, which took place in the building’s atrium, was also attended by KSU President Dr. Dan Papp, Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee, Commissioners Helen Goreham and JoAnn Birrell, and Cobb Chamber CEO David Connell. After the ceremony, dignitaries had a ribbon cutting at the base of the atrium’s staircase, which runs along a wall of glass overlooking an undeveloped courtyard.

The new KSU Sports & Recreation Park formally opened its doors today amidst a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a coin toss, exhibitions of rugby, cheer, lacrosse and other club and intramural sports, and Open House tours of the new Owls Nest. The first phase of the KSU Sports & Recreation Park –– featuring two state-of-the-art synthetic-turf fields and the 16,000-square-foot Owls Nest indoor training facility –– was completed in late September. The new park spreads across a 14-acre parcel, part of 88 acres of new KSU land located east of Interstate 75 recently purchased by the KSU Foundation to be developed into much-needed sports fields and recreational facilities. "The KSU Sports & Recreation Park will play a major role in the continuing transformation of this university,” said Daniel S. Papp, president of Kennesaw State University. “The two new fields and the Owls Nest are great additions to the university’s infrastructure. Yet, this new park does more than provide much-needed facilities. It enables more KSU students to participate in intramural and club sports. When this project is fully complete, it will take our campus to a whole new level.” As varsity sports at KSU have reached National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I status, the university’s intramural and club sports also are poised to take off and flourish. In the past three years, the intramural and club program has experienced more than a 30 percent increase in participation. Kennesaw State’s Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Services Jerome Ratchford said the opening of Phase I of the KSU Sports & Recreation Park “demonstrates KSU's commitment to provide suitable facilities to address the recreation and fitness needs of an expanding student population.” Prior to completion of Phase I of this project, KSU had only a 1.7-acre field on the main campus for its 22,500 students. Many club teams had to practice in fields as far away as Woodstock and Alpharetta for lack of facilities. The larger of the two new fields is 80-by-120 yards, which meets regulation requirements for rugby, lacrosse and soccer, while the smaller field can be used for sports such as flag football and ultimate Frisbee.

This 30-second spot, titled “Global Thinkers. Engaged Leaders,” highlights Kennesaw State’s academics, state-of-the-art facilities, residence life and athletics programs.

Huckaby said he knew KSU's first president, Dr. Horace Sturgis, and remembers when the college first began in the mid-1960s. Huckaby is touring all USG campuses to take a look at measures to cut costs while enhancing students' educations. The University System of Georgia oversees 35 colleges and universities in the state. "We're looking at how to do education more efficiently and effectively, and we want to make sure our students have every opportunity we can provide," said Huckaby, who said he met with Papp to discuss many issues regarding the Kennesaw campus—including the fact that it is landlocked and needs more land to grow. He said the original founders of the school 50 years ago probably never could have imagined the dynamic growth that would occur. "They (current administration) have identified land acquisitions, but the last thing we need to do is talk about real estate transactions right now." KSU is the third-largest university in Georgia, with more than 24,100 students. He ended his comments by applauding the administration and staff of KSU. "I'm not surprised things are going well here," said Huckaby, adding he has known Papp for many years.

Kennesaw State University will honor the generosity of Dr. Bobbie Bailey with “440 Keys: A Reunion,” a gala concert featuring five Steinway pianos, the KSU Orchestra directed by Michael Alexander and the KSU Jazz Ensemble directed by Sam Skelton. The concert will celebrate Bailey's gift of Steinway & Sons pianos to Kennesaw State and to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. In October 2007, the university celebrated the opening of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center and the delivery of a single Steinway D concert grand piano, donated to the school by Bailey. At the opening concert, Bailey surprised college officials by announcing her plans to donate an additional 26 Steinway pianos. The gift earned Kennesaw State the designation as an All-Steinway School. This title means all of the pianos used by the school are designed by Steinway & Sons, a brand internationally recognized as the epitome of quality craftsmanship. Four of these pianos—the concert grand pianos used in the Bailey Center—are named in honor of members of Bailey's family: “Miss Mary” for her mother, “Mr. Elbert” for her father, “Miss Ann” for a family friend and “Mr. Henry” for her grandfather.... http://www.kennesaw.edu/arts/COTA_News/2011/03-08-11_440_keys.shtml

Dr. Papp and Dr. Ron Manson promote the groundbreaking of a new science lab building at Kennesaw State University for the College of Science and Math. Dr. Manson also discusses the benefits of a new lab building for students and teachers in the College of Science and Math. The Science Lab provides an environment that enables highly effective collaboration for research and teaching. The design of the new KSU Science Lab Addition provides the academic components necessary for future flexibility, leading to undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry and Biochemistry. It promotes teaching methods that benefit all science students and interdisciplinary research. Thanks to the new KSU Science Lab Addition, KSU can meet the educational and technological challenges of the 21st century with upgraded facilities, expanded course offerings and increased research opportunities. The Science Lab provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate research. With these upgraded laboratory facilities, Kennesaw State continues to become a premier undergraduate science institution for the state of Georgia.

The final additions are being made to Kennesaw State University's new soccer stadium as it approaches its May 2, 2010 grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Standing on the field's luscious bermuda grass, KSU President Dr. Dan Papp on a recent stadium visit confidently asserted that the $16.5 million, 8,318-seat stadium at Busbee Parkway and Big Shanty Road will go far in putting the 47-year-old university on the national stage. The stadium is the centerpiece of KSU's new sports and recreation park that will include at least nine athletic fields and nearly a mile of nature and hiking trails in proximity to a 10-acre lake. The first phase of the park included two synthetic-turf fields and a 16,000-square-foot indoor training facility called the Owls Nest, which opened in October. It's all expected to be completed by the end of the year and cost between $53 million and $56 million.

The stadium is the centerpiece of KSU's new sports and recreation park that will include at least nine athletic fields and nearly a mile of nature and hiking trails in proximity to a 10-acre lake. The first phase of the park included two synthetic-turf fields and a 16,000-square-foot indoor training facility called the Owls Nest, which opened in October. It's all expected to be completed by the end of the year and cost between $53 million and $56 million.

Marking this milestone in university history, Kennesaw State President Daniel S. Papp, along with Susan Herbst, executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer of the University System of Georgia and Norman Radow, chairman of the KSU Foundation, addressed guests at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The two-story, 53,466-square foot facility features student-designed artwork, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an on-site herb and vegetable garden filled with fresh basil, rosemary, and bell peppers. Offering nine different food venues including made-to-order specialty sandwiches, build-your-own salads, and international and regional cuisines that offer student recommended recipes, The Commons sets a new standard for campus dining. “The opening of the dining hall continues KSU’s transformation to a full-service, residential campus, and enhances the vibrant living-and-learning community that has become a hallmark of our university,” Papp said. “This facility is more than just a gathering place for our students; it is a top-tier model example of how to marry high-quality food offerings with sustainability.”

The new Social Sciences building at Kennesaw State University was officially dedicated on November 13, 2007 in a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by College and University Administrators, State Senators, community members, and representatives from the companies involved in the construction of the building. Welcoming speeches were given by Dr. Lendley Black, Dr. Wes Wicker, and the College's dean, Dr. Richard Vengroff. The guest speaker was Mr. Ray Anderson, who was recently selected by Time magazine as an international hero for environmental issues. He touched on the life of David Brower, the environmentalist depicted on the sculpture in front of the new building. Dean Vengroff and Dr. Black focused on what this building means to KSU and thanked all the men and women who helped bring the building to fruition. Some highlights of the new environmentally friendly Social Sciences Building are its LEED Silver certification, 38 high-tech classrooms, a 300-seat auditorium, five research centers, five project centers, 120 faculty and department offices, and a café in the lobby.

Spaceship Earth‚ a 175−ton circular sculpture created by world−renowned Finno−American artist Eino‚ was unveiled to the public during a ceremony Friday‚ Oct. 20‚ at 10:30 a.m. in front of Kennesaw State University’s new Social Sciences Building. The $1 million sculpture is considered one of Eino’s most notable projects. The massive design consists of a 15−foot−diameter sphere comprised of 88 separate pieces of Brazilian blue quartzite‚ as well as 2‚400 bronze pieces attached to the face of the 22−foot−high globe. A life−size bronze figure of environmentalist David Brower is stationed near the apex. Spaceship Earth was commissioned by Jennifer and Brian Maxwell‚ founders of PowerBar‚ as a tribute to Brower‚ who died in 2000. Unfortunately‚ Brian Maxwell didn’t live long enough to see the tribute come to fruition‚ suffering fatal cardiac arrest in 2004. Brian’s wife‚ Jennifer‚ his son‚ Justin‚ his mother‚ Phyllis Maxwell‚ his sister Sheila Maxwell‚ along with several family members and friends attended the unveiling. “Spaceship Earth is a unique and generous gift from the Maxwell family‚” said Karen Paonessa‚ associate vice president of university advancement and director of the Kennesaw State University Foundation. “It is not only a beautiful artistic expression‚ but a historic environmental tribute that will touch lives for generations to come.”