Engineering and Physics Facilities

Heitkamp Planetarium & Loras Observatory

Saint Joseph Hall of ScienceSaint Joseph Hall of Science

The Department of Physics & Engineering is housed in Saint Joseph Hall of Science.  It shares the building with the Departments of Biology and Chemistry.  Science Hall was opened in 1964.  It features two auditoria (Hoffman Auditorium and Foley Auditorium) with excellent acoustics and modern computer projection equipment.

Our part of the building includes faculty offices, the Engineering Graphics/CAD Laboratory, the General Physics Laboratory, the Electronics Laboratory, and the Advanced Projects Laboratory.  We share a machine shop with the other departments.

Science Hall was completed in 1964, following an inititative by Rev. Donald R. Hutchinson (physics), Rt. Rev. George Schulte (chemistry), and Rev. Warren Nye (biology).

The Engineering Graphics/CAD Laboratory features ten computers and drafting tables.  Software includes CAD software, kinematic analysis software, finite element software, and mathematical modeling software.  Students in our graphics/CAD course and our engineering design courses work on their projects in this lab.

The General Physics Laboratory features computer based instrumentation that many of the physics experiments use to gather data.  Students in introductory and calculus-based physics courses work in teams and perform their experiments in this lab.  Dr. Joe Schaefer and Dr. Jay Kopp were instrumental in obtaining an NSF (National Science Foundation) grant to equip this laboratory with computers and with computer-interfaced experimental apparatus. 

The Electronics Laboratory features electronics workbenches each outfitted with signal generators, prototyping hardware, and power supplies for both digital and analog circuit design and analysis.   Students in our analog circuits course and the digital circuits course perform experiments and work on projects in this lab. 

The Advanced Projects Laboratory features advanced equipment used mainly by Seniors for their final projects and Senior Theses.

The Machine Shop is equipped with a metal lathe and a variety of power tools.  Students use the shop to work on hardware for their projects.  Dr. Joe Schaefer was instrumental in obtaining an NSF (National Science Foundation) grant to equip the shop.

There is a seismograph near the building.  Also affiliated with our department are the Heitkamp Planetarium and the observatory.

Heitkamp Planetarium & Loras Observatory

The Planetarium offers regular shows to the campus and the community.  The shows typically begin at 7 PM on Friday evening.  Please plan to be seated five minutes before the show begins; late arrivals cannot be admitted because their entry would ruin the dark-adjustment of the audience's eyes.  Shows are presented by the Planetarium Director and by undergraduate students who work as planetarium interns.

The Planetarium also offers special shows for groups.  Groups (such as grade school and high school classes) may make special arrangements by contacting the Science Hall Academic Secretary, Colleen Fitzpatrick colleen.fitzpatrick@loras.edu  (563) 588-7145 between 10am and 1pm on Monday through Friday or simply leave a voice/email message.

Brief History and Description of the Planetarium

Since its opening in 1965, the planetarium and its staff have provided the college, the community, and the area with astronomy education.   Frank Miller (Physics & Engineering) and Thomas Goodman (Public Relations) devoted a great deal of effort and time to the planetarium for many years.   Frank Miller was replaced as planetarium director first by Dr. MaryJane Taylor and then by Dr. Jeff Zweerink.  The current planetarium director is Dr. Kenneth McLaughlin.

The planetarium was designed by architect William F. Bernbrock, of Moline, Illinois.  The floorplan is a four-pointed star surrounding an octagonal chamber.  The planetarium has 90 reclining seats.  The Goto model "Venus" projector is in the center of the 33-foot Astro-Dome.  The dome (designed by engineer Gene Presta) consists of a structural aluminum framework to which perforated panels are riveted.  The system of projectors provides 2800 stars; it also projects slides, including planetary landscapes painted by James McDermott of the Loras College Art Department.