The long awaited dedication of the Cohen Science Center is finally happening, and science students could not be more excited about the potential the building has for scholarly work.

On Oct. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. the $36 million state-of-the-art building will be officially opened in a dedication ceremony during homecoming week. The building has four floors of laboratories that allow interdisciplinary use and encourage student activity. The building also acts as a new home to the biology, health science, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, and environmental engineering departments.

The building is built to LEED silver standards for environmental sustainability with “green”: features including energy saving windows, lighting controlled by motion detectors, and low malignance flooring. The rooftop garden reduces water runoff from rainstorms, as well as a greenhouse access and a wet lab-kitchen.

The building itself is a teaching tool, as students can monitor the building performance in regards to energy and water use.

The building is named after Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, who together donated one of the largest gifts in Wilkes history, $2.5 million toward the building. Lawrence Cohen, class of 1957, said his gift was, “an endorsement of Wilkes’ bright future.”

President Patrick Leahy says the university cannot thank the Cohen’s enough. “The generosity of Larry and Sally Cohen over the decades … ensures that Wilkes students will study and conduct research in outstanding facilities for years to come. Their gift will allow Wilkes to continue its tradition as a national leader in the sciences, preparing the researchers, health-care providers and scientific innovators of tomorrow.  Future generations of Wilkes students will owe a debt to the Cohen’s,” Leahy said.

To hear student and faculty interviews on the building and its merits, go to http://www.wilkes.edu/Cohen.