Major Gift from Septodont Creates Septodont Lecture Hall at NYU College of Dentistry
"Septodont Lecture Hall will be NYUCD’s largest facility for lectures, programs, and events"
Septodont North America, an innovative product development and manufacturing corporation dedicated exclusively to the dental profession, has made a major gift to NYUCD which the College has recognized with the naming of the Septodont Lecture Hall, formerly the Saklad Auditorium. Renovations are expected be completed by mid-August, 2013.
With seating for 443 people, the Septodont Lecture Hall will be NYUCD’s largest facility for student lectures, continuing education programs, and school-wide and community events. To perpetuate the memory of Dr. Maurice J. Saklad, Class of 1941, NYU alumni trustee, and longtime member of NYUCD’s prosthodontics faculty, the area adjacent to the Septodont Lecture Hall has been renamed the Saklad Atrium.
“Since its establishment in 1979, the Saklad Auditorium has been the site of nearly 32,000 classes for more than 28,000 students,” said Dr. Michael P. O’Connor, executive vice dean for administration and finance. “Thirty-four years of extreme utilization have contributed to extensive wear and tear, and the once-splendid auditorium facilities have become worn out and antiquated. Septodont’s visionary gift will allow NYUCD to transform the space into a 21st century facility that boasts the latest in technology, design, and function.”
The Septodont Lecture Hall will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and amenities such as a large new projection screen, tablet-arm seating to give students a place to rest their computers and notebooks, and 130 outlets from which to charge laptops and other electronic devices. Our students, faculty, staff, and guests will soon be able to enjoy a truly modern, comprehensive lecture hall.”
Additional upgrades include aisles to improve entry and exit to and from seats, new carpeting, acoustical improvements, installation of NYU banners, a new podium, new wireless microphones and ceiling speakers, a new digital media processor, recording capabilities for archiving and podcasting lectures, perimeter shelving for power-charging stations, and new ceiling lighting.
Septodont is a family-owned company established over 80 years ago in Saint Maur, France, the site of the global corporate headquarters. With manufacturing plants in France, India, Canada, and the USA, Septodont is known globally as a quality manufacturer of dental products. Septodont’s products are registered in over 150 countries worldwide.
“We are honored to be able to help make a difference at the NYU College of Dentistry. Our contribution to the modernization of the new Septodont Lecture Hall is an opportunity to further enhance the excellent educational environment that NYU is known for around the world,” said Oliver Schiller, third generation heir to the company and current CEO. “We recognize the quality of dentistry that comes out of this fine school as well as cutting edge research that will make such a positive difference in how dentistry is practiced in the future.”
“NYUCD is proud to name the Septodont Lecture Hall in recognition of Septondont’s extraordinarily generous and thoughtful gift,” said Dean Charles N. Bertolami. “We are confident that our academic community and visitors will appreciate the new look and feel of the space for years to come.”