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Building a Reputation -- Rice Dedicates Duncan Hall
Source: Sallyport, Winter 1997
By Christopher Dow
In Lovett Hall, described so eloquently by Professor Huxley soon after its
completion, the founders of Rice University sought a building that would
make a definitive statement of their bold vision and noble aspirations. The
architectural blend they chose for Rice's first building set a design
standard for the campus that continues to present day. And nowhere is this
tradition more dramatically displayed than in Anne and Charles Duncan Hall,
dedicated on November 1, 1996.
Named for Charles Duncan, a 1947 graduate of Rice and former chair of the
Rice University Board of Governors, and his wife, Anne, the
state-of-the-art facility for computational engineering is the new home to
the Departments of Computer Science, Computational and Applied Mathematics,
Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Statistics. More than six hundred
donors, alumni, faculty, staff, administrators, and students filled the
main hall, from the ground floor to the second- and third-floor balconies,
to witness the dedication ceremonies.
"The names of Anne and Charles Duncan will instantly identify this building
with the promise for the future that it contains," said E. William Barnett,
chair of the Rice University Board of Governors. "They are identified not
only with success but also with the constant pursuit of excellence. They
have worked tirelessly to ensure that Rice University achieves its
tremendous potential."
Rice president Malcolm Gillis said, "Anne and Charles Duncan together are
an integral part of this university, having devoted a major share of their
lives to the advancement of Rice. The pioneering work to be performed
within Anne and Charles Duncan Hall will reflect both the vision and the
very deep sense of service to society for which both Duncans are justly
famed. Anne and Charles Duncan have made a huge difference to Rice
University, and the university is hugely grateful to them."
In his remarks, Duncan stressed the collaborative nature of the building
project. "Anne and I fell tremendously honored," Duncan said, "first
because this is a very significant event in the history of this university,
and second, of course, that our names have been chosen to be identified
with this building. It is a tremendous source of pride for Anne and me to
have our names associated with the pioneering research and the teaching
that is certain to occur in this building."
Michael Carroll, dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering, Sidney
Burrus, Maxfield and Oshman Professor of Engineering, and Kenneth Kennedy,
Noah Harding Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Computer
Science, all offered remarks about the significance of the building and the
research that will be conducted there. Also on the dais with the speakers
and honorees were Burton J. McMurtry and Ralph S. O'Connor, chairs of the
Leadership Committee, and Kent Anderson, a cochair of the Leadership
Committee.
Following the addresses, a small, computerized robot named Mr. Asimov
rolled down the aisle and presented scissors to the Duncans, who then cut
the ribbon, officially opening the building where research in computational
engineering will be pushed to new levels. Faculty, staff, administrators,
and students began moving into the building in November, and it was fully
occupied by mid-December.
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