Golden wrecking ball marks dedication for Dudley and Lambertus Halls

Margaret Christopherson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
Updated ·2 min read

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − The completion and opening of Dudley and Lambertus halls at Purdue University called for the dedication of the gateway complex after their respective namesakes: Bill and Marty Dudley and Peter and Ann Lambertus

This facility, which began construction in the fall of 2019, makes up 255,000 gross-square-feet and includes instructional laboratories, faculty offices, design studios and collaborative spaces. The facility, called a "gateway complex" is made up of two connected buildings, those of Dudley and Lambertus Halls.

Laboratories for the Purdue Polytechnic’s School of Construction Management Technology, School of Engineering Technology, Department of Computer and Information Technology and Department of Computer Graphics Technology, plus faculty offices, are located in the complex.

At this facility, test structures made out of wood, steel and other building materials can be built and studied in preparation for real-world applications.

In the Build at Scale Lab, rows of machines are available for construction and engineering students to utilize.

"It offers construction possibilities never before enjoyed here at Purdue," Daniel Castro-Lacouture, dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, said. "...I'm very optimistic about what the future holds."

Purdue President Mung Chiang also spoke about what is the largest "post-COVID" expansion to the West Lafayette campus. However, he felt that another voice, the one that was in the president's seat when this project began, would also benefit in sharing his thoughts on the now completed, open and dedicated project.

"It may not be as clear to everyone here...but this really represents (a) convergence, a confluence of two, at least two, major, major moves forward that Purdue has made over recent years," President emeritus Mitch Daniels said at the event. "One is the constant improvement, both expansion, but also elevation of quality of its STEM disciplines...(Another is) what (was done with) transforming the College of Technology...was a genuine achievement of academic progress and reform."

Thanks to donations from both families, the Dudley and Lambertus Halls Gateway Complex was officially dedicated in their names on Friday.

"As the number of STEM majors at Purdue continues to grow, this beautiful facility will help prepare students to meet tomorrow's challenges," Bill and Marty are credited as saying. "We're excited to support their training and look forward to their future success."

"It's an honor to partner with the university on this state-of-the-art complex," Peter and Ann Lambertus are credited as saying. "As students and faculty collaborate on groundbreaking work here, we can't wait to see the impact they will make - at Purdue and beyond."

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Dudley and Lambertus Halls now dedicated after their namesakes