UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Information Sciences and Technology recently announced plans to rename the IST Building on the University Park campus to the Westgate Building, subject to final approval of the Facilities Naming Committee.
“The building will be renamed, consistent with the original vision for the building, which was to serve as a gateway to the West Campus,” said Andrew Sears, dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, in a note to faculty and staff on Friday (Sept. 16). “Conversations have been underway for nearly a year regarding changes that could be made to the building to better address issues of both identity and wayfinding.”
Additionally, since both the College of Information Sciences and Technology and the College of Engineering share the space, the name will better represent the building’s many uses.
Leaders from both colleges collaborated with a group of faculty to address visitor difficulties navigating the building. Room numbering and new signage to support wayfinding will be added throughout the building. Entrance signs also will designate the college located in that area of the building, highlighting whether entry is to the “Westgate Building – IST – College of Information Sciences and Technology” or the “Westgate Building – EECS – School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.”
The plan has been approved by the Office of Physical Plant and University senior leadership.