Building gives Y. a new spin

PROVO — Don't fall asleep in class — you just might wake up in a different room.

As soon as January 2005, students at Brigham Young University could wake up to that fate. Thanks to two rotating classrooms in the new Joseph F. Smith Building, a sleepy freshman could fall asleep in humanities and wake up in home economics.

"It's a bizarre concept (rotating rooms) that I didn't think was going to work," said Mark Wilson, an architect at FFKR Architects, who designed the 300,000-square-foot building. "We tried to talk (the designer) out of it, but when you come right down to it, it's a pretty great concept."

Two carousel-like structures, each accommodating 60 seats, can rotate back and forth to create an ever-changing classroom environment. With the push of a button, the gears will turn and a 250-seat auditorium will appear.

But if smaller classes are needed, the carousel can spin again and create three classrooms — two 60-seat rooms and one 130-seat auditorium.

"By having rotating rooms, we were able to create three rooms, which perfectly meet the requirements of many of the classes we teach," said John Rosenberg, associate dean for BYU's College of Humanities. "It provides important instructional space."

The gears that turn the roving classrooms will soon be shielded from public view.

Okland Construction crews set the final piece of structural steel at a topping-off ceremony Thursday, and now the walls will be constructed.

Vernon Monger, who heads the 165-person Okland Construction crew, said he is amazed by the technology planned for the new building that will house BYU's College of Humanities and the College of Family, Home and Social Services.

Departments will begin moving into the building starting Sept. 1, 2004. Classes in the Joseph F. Smith Building will begin on Jan. 2, 2005.

"When I was in college I couldn't even imagine computers, either, and I'm not that old," Monger said.

The unique design of the building will feature a spacious 40,000-square-foot courtyard with an Italian Renaissance theme. Classical Roman arches covered with stone imported from Italy adorn the outer shell.

"You go to Milan or Florence and you'll see buildings just like this," Monger said. "The only difference is this courtyard is closed off with glass."