Russell Sage Laboratory: Difference between revisions
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=Introduction= | =Introduction= | ||
Russell Sage Laboratory, otherwise known to students and faculty as 'Sage Lab', was opened in 1909. Mrs. Russell Sage gave RPI $1,000,000 as a memorial to her husband. The building was named after Russell Sage who, prior to his death, had been on the board of trustees. $300,000 of this money was set aside for building a lab that would be used for the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering departments. | Russell Sage Laboratory, otherwise known to students and faculty as 'Sage Lab', was opened in 1909. Mrs. Russell Sage gave RPI $1,000,000 as a memorial to her husband. The building was named after Russell Sage who, prior to his death, had been on the board of trustees at RPI. $300,000 of this money was set aside for building a lab that would be used for the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering departments, which had just been introduced at the school. | ||
=Early Days= | =Early Days= | ||
Sage Lab began construction in 1907 and initially cost $405,000, around $12 million in today's money. The building included 3 main sections: one wing for the electrical engineering department, one wing for the mechanical engineering department and the in-between was used by both departments. This middle section contained a large lecture hall, which is still there today and many students have class | Sage Lab began construction in 1907 and initially cost $405,000, around $12 million in today's money. The building included 3 main sections: one wing for the electrical engineering department, one wing for the mechanical engineering department and the in-between was used by both departments. This middle section contained a large lecture hall, which is still there today and many students have class in. It also contained a large drawing room and a laboratory which contained nearly 600,000 pounds of equipment designed to test construction materials. There were also hydraulic and internal combustion engine labs for the Mechanical Engineers and storage battery and transformer rooms, and an electrochemical laboratory for the Electrical Engineers. This would allow for engineering students to get hands-on experience. The first degrees for Electrical and Mechanical engineering were given out in 1911, 9 students and 3 students, respectively, thanks to the Sage Lab. | ||
=Expansion= | |||
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute only had 485 students when the building was funded in 1907. But RPI continued to grow and because of this growth, Sage Lab also had to grow. There was a four story addition added to the building in 1923 for a cost of 235,000, or about $4 million today. This section of the building is thought to be in an awkward spot because to enter it, one has to walk through a lecture hall. This can be difficult when there is a class in session. | |||
=Modern Day= | |||
Sage lab was renovated in 1985 and currently is the home of the Humanities department. Many engineering students at RPI use laboratories in the JEC today. The use of labs in Sage is in the past and the building is mainly used as classrooms and offices. | |||
=References= | |||
https://archives.rpi.edu/blog/2019/06/26/continuing-up-the-hill-russell-sage-laboratory | |||
https://archives.rpi.edu/institute-history/building-histories/russell-sage-laboratory | |||
Revision as of 16:55, 22 February 2023
Introduction
Russell Sage Laboratory, otherwise known to students and faculty as 'Sage Lab', was opened in 1909. Mrs. Russell Sage gave RPI $1,000,000 as a memorial to her husband. The building was named after Russell Sage who, prior to his death, had been on the board of trustees at RPI. $300,000 of this money was set aside for building a lab that would be used for the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering departments, which had just been introduced at the school.
Early Days
Sage Lab began construction in 1907 and initially cost $405,000, around $12 million in today's money. The building included 3 main sections: one wing for the electrical engineering department, one wing for the mechanical engineering department and the in-between was used by both departments. This middle section contained a large lecture hall, which is still there today and many students have class in. It also contained a large drawing room and a laboratory which contained nearly 600,000 pounds of equipment designed to test construction materials. There were also hydraulic and internal combustion engine labs for the Mechanical Engineers and storage battery and transformer rooms, and an electrochemical laboratory for the Electrical Engineers. This would allow for engineering students to get hands-on experience. The first degrees for Electrical and Mechanical engineering were given out in 1911, 9 students and 3 students, respectively, thanks to the Sage Lab.
Expansion
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute only had 485 students when the building was funded in 1907. But RPI continued to grow and because of this growth, Sage Lab also had to grow. There was a four story addition added to the building in 1923 for a cost of 235,000, or about $4 million today. This section of the building is thought to be in an awkward spot because to enter it, one has to walk through a lecture hall. This can be difficult when there is a class in session.
Modern Day
Sage lab was renovated in 1985 and currently is the home of the Humanities department. Many engineering students at RPI use laboratories in the JEC today. The use of labs in Sage is in the past and the building is mainly used as classrooms and offices.
References
https://archives.rpi.edu/blog/2019/06/26/continuing-up-the-hill-russell-sage-laboratory https://archives.rpi.edu/institute-history/building-histories/russell-sage-laboratory