More than 150 people gathered Monday morning at the IYRS School of Technology and Trades on lower Thames Street to celebrate the grand opening of the newest building on campus, a $6 million two-story elevated building with 20,000 square feet of space.
The Brooks Building will house classes for programs in composites, digital fabrication and marine systems, said IYRS President Terry Nathan.
The building was named in honor of the late John Brooks, who served in the Merchant Marine and then as a chief engineer in the Navy during World War II. He then went on to find success as a major real estate developer in California, as a co-founder of the Oakland Raiders, and as the force behind many other accomplishments.
His son Matt Brooks and daughter in law Pam Rorke Levy (owners of Dorade) were major contributors to the construction of the building and spoke at the ceremony.