The James Fletcher Building is home to the Physics & Astronomy department. It was built on the site of an old observatory in the 1960s. It is named for James C. Fletcher, the 8th President of the University of Utah (1964-1971). After being president of the U, James Fletcher served as the 4th and 7th Administrator of NASA. He was responsible for the early planning of the Space Shuttle program and later for its recovery and return to flight after the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986.
The main lecture hall (JFB 101) in Fletcher is named after J. Irvin Sweigart who joined the physics department. During his 57 years of teaching at the university, it is estimated that he taught over 40,000 students. His portrait hangs in the lecture hall.
The Physics library on the second floor is a great place to study with public computers available for any student to use.
Fletcher is the heart of the Physics & Astronomy department and is where most of the physics clubs meet. The physics labs are on the first floor and the second floor has several open areas for students to study.
