BEND, OR -- Oregon State University celebrates the grand opening of Tykeson Hall in Bend, on Tuesday. OSU President Ed Ray tells KBND News the university’s move away from the Central Oregon Community College campus is the beginning of a new era for the region. "This has been a 30-year effort. There are people who have just made incredible sacrifices and efforts to be able to provide four-year and advanced higher education opportunities there. And, here’s the physical evidence. We’re past the talking stage; it’s happening."

 

Faculty and staff moved offices and classrooms from COCC’s Cascades Hall over the past 10 days. Interim Dean of Academic Programs Julie Gess-Newsome says everyone is settling in. "We’re just at the edge of getting all of those fine details done, making sure that our technology works, faculty have moved into their offices so the books are going up on the shelves. People are learning how to live in this new space and it’s an absolutely exciting time."

 

She tells KBND News the new Tykeson Hall is much different than the old facility. "The classroom spaces are primarily on the first and second floors; they’re absolutely beautiful and arranged in ways that are very different than what we’ve seen in the past. Our third floor has our new laboratories. Where, in the past, we were in two different buildings on the COCC campus, we now have all three of our labs on the same corridor with windows into them so people can actually see into the rooms and see what’s going on."

 

To hear our full conversation with President Ed Ray and Julie Gess-Newsome, click HERE or visit our Podcast Page. 

 

The public celebration begins at 11 a.m. with remarks by President Ray, followed by an open house until 2 p.m. Governor Kate Brown is also expected to attend. Fall term begins September 21. Residence and Dining halls are slated to be completed at the Chandler Avenue campus in January.