Signature School Science Center Opening

New center is a scientific fact

By JOHN MARTIN
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7594 or jmartin@evansville.net

Photos by DENNY SIMMONS / Courier & Press
Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Signature School's new Robert L. Koch II Science Center took a long time to develop, but "I can assure you it is well worth the wait," Principal Vicki Snyder said Tuesday ats the facility's official opening.

The former bank building at Main and Sixth streets, just a block away from Signature School's front door, has been transformed into a state-of-the-art instruction area with labs and classrooms, according to Signature's staff.

The building also will have an outdoor classroom area. Its distinctive clock tower remains on the corner.

Teacher Shane Thread said he's conducted science labs at various locations in Signature's main building, "hallways included. I can tell you this is a great gift."

The Science Center was designed by Hafer Associates, and the building's extensive renovations were done by Industrial Contractors. It is named in honor of Koch, Signature School's board president and a key figure in the charter school's development.

Koch was unable to attend Tuesday's ribbon-cutting because of a death in his family.

"His continued support of education in Evansville is well-known," Snyder said at Tuesday's ceremonies. "His support of Signature School has made a difference in the lives of many people. He has been our anchor."

Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel noted Signature's presence on a Newsweek magazine list of the nation's 100 top high schools and said the new science building "only

solidifies that ranking and builds on Signature's reputation as a wonderful school."

Signature School has raised about $2.5 million for the project, said Frederick Geissinger, a member of Signature's board and leader of the fundraising effort.

Signature's next project will be to transform a building on the northern side of the same intersection into a student center and testing area. That building is the former home of Mike Libs Chocolate Factory.