The two classrooms in the building include desktop computer data ports, video display terminals, and other features that will put them in demand among professors, according to Bert Audette in the college's information technology department.

The entire building has been flexibly designed to handle as many functions and tasks as possible, Gibbs said.

"The needs of students are changing, and this facility is designed to meet those needs," Gibbs said. "We've designed it to be multi-use."

Using the features in the auditorium, a speaker could look up a magazine article in the college's electronic library to answer a question in mid-lecture, and then not only refer to it, but display it and any accompanying images to the entire audience, college officials said.

Such capabilities are unprecedented in the region, making the auditorium a bonus not only for Thomas, but for Central Maine as it strives to attract high-tech businesses to the area, Gibbs said.

Eventually, real-time digital video feeds from the two new classrooms will be available to students in their dormitory rooms on days when they are sick or otherwise unable to attend classes, Audette said.

Ayotte Auditorium was built as the result of the first major capital campaign in the college's history, including substantial support from the Ayotte family.

Conrad Ayotte is one of Laurette M. Ayotte's 12 children — all of whom collected a college degree despite her husband's early death. Four of those children graduated from Thomas.

Together, Laurette Ayotte's children chose to dedicate their contribution to her. Despite her husband's death, Laurette Ayotte taught school after her youngest child was of school age. She drilled into her children the attitude that a college education is not optional.

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