New High-tech Plaza Celebrated

Nov. 17, 2017 - About 80 members of the leadership councils of the Samueli School of Engineering and the Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences joined Deans Gregory Washington and Marios Papaefthymiou after their joint fall meeting Nov. 15 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception on the new Stacey Nicholas Tech Pavilion.

Located between the Engineering Tower and Computer Science buildings, the high-tech space features outdoor lounge seating, free Wi-Fi, solar-powered tables with charging stations, lights and umbrellas, and 16 bollards with electrical outlets and USB charging stations.

The two deans thanked Nicholas, a member of the Samueli School’s Engineering Leadership Council and Diversity Advisory Board, for her generous support. Her gift enabled the renovation and transformation of the plaza. Students have been congregating there since it first opened last spring.

Nicholas remembers that when Washington initially talked to her about the idea, she loved it. “I said whatever you need for the students, I’m happy to help,” said Nicholas. “It seems like they are enjoying it, and it’s well used.”

Council members on hand for the event included Henry Samueli, co-founder, chairman and chief technical officer of Broadcom Corp.; and former Samueli School dean Nicolaos Alexopoulos, a professor emeritus.

– Lori Brandt