Westminster School updates lab facilities

The Westminster School has updated its science lab facilities, providing more versatility for students.

While students were able to learn all the necessary topics conceptually, there was not enough room for hands-on activities, said Dale Carrell, head of the school’s science department.

“It was really crowded, so we couldn’t do what I call interesting labs,” he said.

The school added a prep room, safety cabinets for chemicals, five sinks with water and gas lines and extra storage, which helps facilitate labs for a variety of classes. 

“We designed the room to not just be chemistry,” Carrell said.

The lab tables are also on wheels, which help the classroom quickly modify. The room easily can transform from a lab station setup to a lecture setup, Carrell said. Classes also can push all desks to the wall, opening up the center of the floor for experiments. 

“Because we can move the tables, the room becomes more usable,” he said. 

The decision to invest in new lab equipment came from feedback from former Westminster School students, who noted they were comfortable with science material in college, but not the labs, Carrell said.

Since updating the labs, students have returned and said they are glad to see an increase in resources at the school, he said.

“I walk in, and I’m still giddy,” Carrell said.