PORT ANGELES — The new Maier Hall at Peninsula College is almost ready to house fall classes when the quarter begins Monday, Sept. 26 — and the public is invited to take a look at it during a grand opening three days before classes begin.

“It’s almost ready to go, said Phyllis van Holland, public information director, last week.

Still in the works were computer connections and other finishing touches, she said.

Two special events Friday, Sept. 23, will mark the completion of the $36 million building.

The day’s festivities will begin at 2 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting and a program that will include speeches by Peninsula College President Tom Keegan, state Reps. Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger — who represent the 24th District, which covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County — and Schuyler Hoss, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Southwest Washington regional representative.

After the speeches, visitors can take self-guided tours of the new facility that will house art, math, liberal arts and music programs, as well as a 131-seat performance hall.

First concert

The performance hall on the ground floor of Maier Hall will be busy that night when the inaugural concert there begins at 7 p.m.

Performers will include the Peninsula College Jazz Ensemble and classical chamber musicians from the North Olympic Peninsula, including Fred Thompson on cello, Kristin Brye on piano and David Jones on clarinet and piano, as well as vocalist Robbin Eaves.

Once it is refurbished, a totem pole that once sat in front of the buildings that it replaces will be returned, Keegan said.

Totem pole

The totem pole was carved by Peninsula College Trustee Harris “Brick” Johnson, and his family is having it updated.

A pole-raising ceremony separate from the grand opening will be scheduled after Maier Hall is open for classes, Keegan said.

Here are a few of the highlights of the new 62,950-square-foot Maier Hall:

■ A learning center, featuring writing, math, computer and foreign language labs.

■ Music classrooms, labs and practice rooms.

■ A ground-floor ceramics lab and third-floor art studios.

■ Modern classrooms for courses in English, math, the social sciences and humanities.

■ A new learning environment for Basic Skills students.

■ Faculty offices.

Maier Hall also has a number of sustainable features that include geothermal energy, daylight harvesting, natural ventilation, wetland restoration and a moss roof.

Moss roof

The moss roof on the second-floor overhang will serve as a filter for rainwater running off the building and into the wetlands, David Wegener, construction project manager for Peninsula College, has said.

The Science and Technology Building also has a “green” roof, but it includes 16 inches of dirt, whereas the moss roof on Maier Hall is light and can easily be rolled off and back on should a leak spring.

The moss, developed by Roy Hellwig of Sequim, the architect for the campus’ Longhouse, is a new process for such a large building.

Maier Hall — named for E. John Maier, the founding president of Peninsula College, who served from 1961 to 1975 — replaces Buildings F, G, H and I, which were built during Maier’s presidency in the 1960s.

The construction team of Howard S. Wright is from the same company that built the Space Needle in 1962.

Architect Walter Schacht of Schacht Aslani Architects in Seattle did the design.

For more information about the grand opening, visit the college’s website at www.pencol.edu.