Science

By TIFFANNIE BOND

VIEW STAFF WRITER

With the opening of Lamping Elementary School's Christa McAuliffe Observa- tory complete, staff members at the school set their sights on bigger ambitions.

Plans for the Lamping Math and Science Center call for all the bells and whistles any scientist would love, including a space center, greenhouse, computer lab and weather station. The center would also be powered by sunlight and wind, and Students would use recycled water to feed the plants.

Although an artist's rendering was on display for the Nov. 14 observatory opening, the project has yet to be funded.

During the next year, science teacher Cathy Grimes and school namesake Frank Lamping will make presentations and attempt to raise the millions of dollars they think will be needed to build the 4,300-square-foot center.

If it were up to Grimes, she would have the money nailed down within the next year, and the center would be built a year later.

"We'd love for that to be true," Grimes said. "In my own heart, I see a year to get it (completely built). Maybe it'll be shorter, but maybe it'll take longer, too."

The center will bring one dimensional science to life and allow students to actively participate, Lamping said.

"In elementary school, they teach science out of a book," said Lamping, who is spearheading the fund-raising campaign to build the science center. "You can't teach it out of a book."

A chance meeting with Grimes brought Lamping into the project. The duo's shared fondness for science propels their dreams for the center.

"We just have some central thoughts and central visions that go together. I think we're going to make it happen," Grimes said. "We have some big ideas for it."

One level of the structure will be integrated into a hill, allowing for an "earth integrated" structure, and the observatory will be moved to the top of the structure, said Eric Christensen, project designer for Welles Pugsley Architects, the company responsible for the artist's rendering of the center.

Because of the cutting-edge designs and innovative heating strategies, Christensen predicts it will set a precedent for centers like it nationwide.

"If we could get this going, it will be a nice piece for the school district," Christensen said. "Conceptually, if it ends up true to the aspirations all the proponents have for it, it will have national and international interest."

Christensen credits those who will fund the project, along with the school district, for daring to be forward thinkers.

"So much of what we have in Vegas is really ordinary or mediocre as far as its development," Christensen said. "It's rare you find a client this open and interested and pushing the envelope."

With fund-raising yet to be fully under way, the technicalities of the project are uncertain, but fellow architect Sean Coulter said the design presented at the observatory opening will most likely be the one they will use.

"It's still rough at this point," Coulter said. "We haven't really taken it any further."

No matter the design, the purpose of the center will best be served when the students finally get to step inside.

"It is the present. It is their future," said Jerry Boles, Lamping principal. "They are going to be better prepared than most because of what we're doing here."

Those interested in donating money to the Math and Science Center can call Lamping Elementary School at 799-1330.