Engineering students at the University of Idaho have had access to the newly completed John C. Wahl thinkTANK in the Janssen Engineering Building for almost two months, and are already making use of it.
“This multi-purpose lounge and meeting facility has been a great hit and is being used in many ways,” said Maria Pregitzer, director of student services.
The thinkTANK opened in January as a resource for more than 1,200 UI undergraduate engineering students. The thinkTANK provides advising for course registration, financial aid and internships, in addition to a study and tutoring space for engineering students.
Many engineering students have already taken advantage of the space for group projects, study groups and tutoring from graduate students and professors.
Khalid Abdel-Rahim, a chemical engineering major, said the thinkTANK is especially useful as a meeting space for groups and he thinks space will become popular among engineering students.
“Right now it’s new so not everyone knows about it yet, but in three or four years I think all engineering students will know about it,” Abdel-Rahim said.
Abdel-Rahim said he uses the space to meet with Engineers Without Borders.
“I think it’s a really good space for just working on stuff and meeting people — other engineers. The tutoring is nice for upper-level classes, and the dean of the college, his office is nearby so that’s kind of cool,” Abdel-Rahim said.
The thinkTANK is dedicated to John C. Wahl, a 1948 graduate of the College of Engineering in metallurgical engineering. Wahl donated to the college throughout his life and supports the university even after his death.
Wahl died in 2009 and the Wahl Foundation took part in the funding of the thinkTANK shortly after.
“My uncle loved the university and wanted to support the College of Engineering in a way that would be meaningful and keep on giving long after he was no longer here,” said Greg Wahl, director of the Frances and John Wahl Foundation.
Tutoring sessions for several engineering classes are available in the thinkTANK Monday through Thursday beginning at 4 p.m.