AN ERA
low.
And, as the value of space
increased, the value of the two-
floor-high ampitheatre could
no longer be taken for granted.
Space won out. Where there was
only one, there could be two. It
was decided to dissect.
The operation is almost over
now, and according to the blue
prints it will certainly be called
a successful one.
The result of the operation,
when completed, will be two
new areas. On the first floor
level there will be a new lecture
hall, and directly underneath
on the ground floor will be tlie
'Id be two. It was decided to dissect.
new home of iledical Art and
Illustration and a pediatric
hematology laboratory.
It is the new lecture hall,
however, with which this article
is concerned; for the new hall
will be a twentieth-century edi
tion of its elder, the amphi
theatre.
The new lecture hall w'ill
have many features to enhance
the atmosphere of learning.
There will be 196 upholstered
seats placed on a carpeted floor.
A stage will have a projection
screen flanked by sliding chalk
boards. When a backdrop is de
sired, a motorized curtain will
slide quickly and quietly across
the stage, hiding both the screen
and the chalk boards. An acous
tically tiled ceiling will feature
not only speakers for projection
of sound, but also several televi
sion monitors.
Special lighting will also be
a feature of the new hall. With
one turn of a dial control, the
hall can be illuminated by
either direct lighting, mininuim
lighting, or indirect lighting.
With minimum lighting, even
when the hall is darkened for a
film, students can take notes
and late arrivals will not have
to grope to find seats. The stage
area will be lighted with ultra
violet lights, enabling lecturers
who diagram on the chalk
boards with flourescent chalk to
refer to the diagrams when the
lights are dimmed or out.
At the back of the new lec
ture hall there will be a visual
aids booth which will be the
television control center. From
this point, televised pictures
can originate from three dif
ferent cameras interconnected
with the audiovisual control in
the Central Television Facility
The operation is almost over.
on the fourth floor of Davison
Building. This means that stu
dents in room 2031 can see on a
television set in that room what
is taking place in the new lec
ture hall. There will also be a
remotely controlled slide pro
jector in the visual aids booth,
which can be set up prior to a
lecture and operated from the
stage by the lecturer during his
presentation.
Oh yes, it’s all an improve
ment. It’s all for progress and
carpeting and because of televi
sion and is to offer bigger and
better advantages.
Ladies can now high-heel
their w'ay down a gentle slope.
Professors can remotely control
their slides. Maids and janitors
can vacuum instead of sweep.
Students can sit in comfort and
learn in style.
But, considering it all, the
ami)hitheatre will be missed.
And historically something has
happened to the medical center,
for with the demise of the
amphitheatre an era ended.
VISUAL AiDS (
196 upholstered seats will be placed on a carpeted floor.
INTERCOM - 5
MARCH 1966
Photo by Sparks