Along with new textbooks and teachers, some students will experience technological advancements in the Thomas Building's newest classroom this semester.

Construction of the addition to the building, a new 740-seat auditorium, began on March 24, 1999.

The auditorium is equipped with laptop-docking stations, power and Internet access at every arm-chair in the room.

It also includes a high-resolution video projector to further benefit computer-assisted classes.

"It is a wonderful facility and provides up-to-date technology that will be great for the students," said Lisa Berkey, project manager of the new lecture hall.

The construction project, managed by the Office of Physical Plant, added 25,475 square feet to the Thomas Building and cost $5,798,000.

More technological advancements are planned for the future.

"We plan to put an automated response system at each chair," Berkey said about future plans for the room. "It will be sort of like on the television show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? — to give teachers and students more interaction."

Until now, many students and professors utilized the Schwab Auditorium for large classes, said Garry Burkle, Director of Enrollment Services.

The auditorium was not very conducive to a student learning environment, and although it is still being used, the goal is to eliminate all classes there unless the auditorium is specifically requested for a class, he said.

Some students coming from class in the building yesterday said they enjoyed the new facility and all it offered.

"Schwab was rough but these new facilities are really nice," said Chad Long (senior-pre-medicine).

Long wasn't the only student who had a good experience with the addition to Thomas Building.

"This facility is so nice and so much better than Schwab," said John Cashman (freshman-history).

The Thomas Building, named after the fifteenth Penn State president, Joab Thomas, is the home of the offices for the Eberly College of Science, which is currently holding classes in the new lecture hall.

After the semester is complete, teachers will be able to exchange opinions and evaluate the technology in the new classroom.

The OPP "will continue to build the most-up-to-date facilities possible," said Paul Ruskin, OPP spokesperson.