Cal Poly’s Warren J. Baker Center for Science and Mathematics opened for its first classes in fall of 2013. One year later, the facility – the result of a combination of public funding and $18.6 million in private gifts – has become an integral part of the campus community.
“The thing I like most about the Baker Center is how much the students like it,” said Phil Bailey, dean of the College of Science & Mathematics, who championed the creation of the facility for two decades.
Bailey tells the story of taking visitors from another university on a tour of the building on a recent Friday evening. The group noticed three students studying together outside a chemistry classroom, and Bailey remarked how diligent Cal Poly’s chemistry students were.
“The students told us, ‘We’re not taking chemistry this quarter – we’re business majors. We just love this building,’” he said with delight.
From its conception, the Baker Center was envisioned as a building for the entire campus, and every student will take at least one class in the facility during his or her time at Cal Poly. The building’s spacious common areas are always bustling, even during evening and weekend hours.
“The thing I like most about the Baker Center is how much the students like it,” said Phil Bailey, dean of the College of Science & Mathematics, who championed the creation of the facility for two decades.
Bailey tells the story of taking visitors from another university on a tour of the building on a recent Friday evening. The group noticed three students studying together outside a chemistry classroom, and Bailey remarked how diligent Cal Poly’s chemistry students were.
“The students told us, ‘We’re not taking chemistry this quarter – we’re business majors. We just love this building,’” he said with delight.
From its conception, the Baker Center was envisioned as a building for the entire campus, and every student will take at least one class in the facility during his or her time at Cal Poly. The building’s spacious common areas are always bustling, even during evening and weekend hours.
