The building itself is a marvelous feat of engineering and a piece of architectural intrigue—appealing or not, its shape is nothing if not remarkable. The real ingenuity, however, is what is inside; aside from the distinctive concert hall and typical offices and reception spaces, EMPAC also hosts a state-of-the-art theater and several studios that serve a multitude of purposes. The technological capabilities are breathtaking, and the sheer volume of new space is highly impressive.

Recent press has dwelled on that topic; we at The Poly have given EMPAC its fair share of publicity. Nonetheless, there are a couple features of the building that have been under-emphasized to the detriment of the facility’s public image. One is the sheer amount of space that is available for performance of any type; nearly every bit—including the lobbies—is wired for stage lighting and broadcasting. From an artistic standpoint, that opens up many doors.

More significant is the misconception that the building is purely a center for the performing arts. The name belies the fact that the facility will be extraordinarily valuable in research across many fields. The acoustic isolation of the various studios will allow experiments that are incredibly sensitive to external distortion and vibration to be performed. Coupled with the unique movable paneling, EMPAC will enable research in acoustics and civil engineering. Likewise, the presentation facilities will simplify problems involving complex visualization. In short, we are truly fortunate to have this magnificent tool.

With that said, EMPAC itself is a financial drain. Even though donations made the construction costs a relatively small burden for the Institute, we are now faced with the daunting task of upkeep and maintenance. Simply cleaning the glass walls around the sides costs enough to make the average student choke. Thus, we have before us a wonderful opportunity, but also an awful responsibility. I am willing to bet that EMPAC has the potential to pay off, but that is certainly not a guarantee. Bringing this project to a success will require a great deal of work from the center’s steering committee to ensure that every bit of the building is utilized and available to every part of the campus.

For this reason, a nagging voice in the back of my mind says that maybe we’re celebrating prematurely. Yes, there is potential—amazing potential­— but physicists will tell you, that potential by itself doesn’t get you very far; it only represents a maximum. Thus, representation on the steering committee is a major concern, as these individuals will be responsible for ensuring EMPAC’s eventual success. So, I hope that it will include students, faculty, and administrators from a variety of disciplines.