AE Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2002

Happy Birthday to the Engineering Units!

Photo provided courtesy of Penn State University Archives.

On Friday, November 22, 2002 a 90^th birthday party was held to celebrate the original dedication of the Engineering Units. The Architecture Student Society and the Department of Architecture hosted the event, held in Engineering Unit D, kicking off a year-long celebration of the Units. Internationally renowned architect Scott A. Erdy, AIA, provided a keynote lecture. Following the lecture, there was cake, ice cream, games, exhibits and live music.

Despite rumors to the contrary, the Engineering Units were designed and built as permanent, not “temporary” buildings. Unit E is the 10^th oldest building on campus, and was constructed at a cost of $17,000 in 1912. Due to a major cut in appropriations from Harrisburg at that time, the University could not afford to hire an architect or general contractor. Unit E was designed and its construction supervised by the faculty and students of the School of Engineering. This saved the University $5,000, more than one quarter of the cost of the building, and provided an excellent learning experience for the students.