President, Dr. Flora C. I. Chang, together with Dean of Office of General Affairs, Chin-jen Hung, and Chief of Construction & Repairs Section, Yi-shan Chiang, inspected the construction of Foreign Languages Building and the Gynasium last Tuesday (March 15). The former is expected to be completed in May this year, while the latter will be completed in next summer vacation. President Chang was satisfied with the quality of the two constructions. She indicated that Foreign Languages Building was a bright architecture, and with grand French windows on each floors, users will feel comfortable with the clear light, pleasant bird-chirping, and fragrance of the plants. The wall of the portal, as that of the gymnasium, is made of granite. “Teachers and students who live and study here will feel very homely,” President Chang remarked.

The Foreign Languages Building was installed with air-conditioners last week. Every air-conditioning facility is shielded, so as not to interfere with the outlook of the building. The court yard will be designed by Wei-chih Hsu, a teacher of Department of Architecture. It is expected to link with the spring plaza in front of the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center. The extended court yard will be a good place for lingering.

The Foreign Languages Building contains 128 research rooms for faculty. The second floor is arranged for Department of Russian and Department of English, the third floor for Department of Spanish and Department of Japanese, the fourth floor for Department of French and Dean’s Office of the College of Foreign Languages and Literatures; the fifth floor for Department of German, Office of International Exchanges and International Education, Office of Vice President of Academic Affairs; the sixth and the seventh floors are spaces for the offices of faculty members. Every floor is facilitated with a foreign language zone and is also equipped with toilets for disabled persons. To provide students more chances to speak foreign languages, those who step into the foreign language zone are expected tom be engaged in conversation only in the specific given foreign language.

More than 500 workers are presently working on the foundation of the gymnasium. President Chang inspected the progress of the construction and concerned about the line of movement for pedestrian. She especially felt pleased with the modification of design to keep the greenery of the banyan trees. (Chi-szu Chen)