Pharmacy school seen as perfect Rx for many

David Bickel, a 1964 graduate, came out to see Manchester Universitys new pharmacy school Wednesday.

He and his wife walked slowly through the large, well-lit hallways before entering the schools auditorium, where Bickel, 73, scanned rows of 150 rising chairs.

Its so steep! he said.

But theyre young people! quipped back his wife, Evelyn.

The Bickels were among dozens of people who came to Manchesters open house for its new School of Pharmacy. The event drew current and prospective students as well as curious members of the public who wanted a peek at the $20 million, 80,000-square-foot building.

The Manchester University pharmacy school will open for classes Aug. 13. About 70 students are enrolled and were chosen out of 470 applicants. Forty percent hail from Indiana, while the rest come from across the country. The student body will be 54 percent white and 60 percent female, according to university officials.

During the open house, visitors walked through classrooms, office spaces and research and communication labs. They could also tour the auditorium, conference rooms and meeting rooms, which university officials plan to make available to the public.

On the left side of the schools main entrance, visitors could peek inside an empty art gallery, where officials hope to have a rotating art exhibit curated by faculty from the main campus in North Manchester.

The outside of the building is red brick and stone a nod to the more traditional buildings on North Manchesters campus, officials said. But the interior is more contemporary, full of open spaces, crisp lines, metal and glass.

Manchester announced the plan for the four-year doctoral program in October 2009.

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Pharmacy school seen as perfect Rx for many