When the University Center Complex opened in 2022, a world of new spaces for studying and socializing opened up to Stevens students. The residential lounge on the sixth floor of the UCC’s South Tower is one such space. Named the Forslund Lounge in recognition of Don Forslund ’60 M.S. ’62 who made a gift to support the UCC, the lounge honors the time that he and his late twin brother Robert P. Forslund ’60 M.S. ’62 spent at Stevens.
The Forslund brothers came to Stevens on a recommendation from a neighbor in their Massachusetts hometown. “We chose to go to Stevens and received scholarships and that started the whole thing,” Don said. “We were very happy there, being right across the river from New York City and around an intellectual crowd of people interested in engineering.
While the brothers chose different engineering paths – Don pursued electrical engineering and Robert studied mechanical engineering – both led successful careers. Don worked at IBM for 30 years and Robert went on to MIT and thrived with a career in the heating and energy industry.
When Robert passed away in 2021, Don wanted to pay tribute to his brother through the gift. “I wanted to give my brother recognition and honor the five years we spent at Stevens,” he said.
Don, who also established an endowed scholarship at Stevens, said he is grateful for the support he and his brother received at Stevens. “Others helped us, and I think it is the fair and right thing to give back,” he said.
