Dr. Lawrence E. Roël Garden Pavilion
University of South Carolina Upstate students can enjoy outdoor classes, and the entire campus community is welcome to gather for activities such as picnics, campus events, and reunions at the Dr. Lawrence E. Roël Garden Pavilion nestled in the Susan Jacobs Arboretum.
The Roël Pavilion was conceptualized primarily as an outdoor classroom. And what student doesn’t jump at the chance to go to class when it’s held outdoors? Seating for students can be arranged for small classes of about 30 students and large classes or groups of up to 150, from round picnic bench style to formal rows. From biology to ecology, and many other subjects in between, the facility, built from natural materials, will be a refreshing place for learning. The Roël Pavilion is situated at the west end of the Arboretum, near the P. Kathryn Hicks Visual Arts Center. But no matter from which direction you approach the pavilion, it beckons as a beautiful and shady open air classroom naturally nestled into the garden landscape.
Who is Dr. Lawrence E. Roël?
Dr. Roël is a board certified ophthalmologist with practices on Spartanburg’s Eastside and Westside. A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he is also a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, International Society of Refractive Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons, American Medical Association, South Carolina Medical Society, and the Spartanburg County Medical Society. Dr. Roël received his undergraduate training at Princeton University (AB), his graduate training at MIT (Ph.D.), and his medical school training at the University of Pennsylvania (M.D.). His residency training was at Columbia University’s Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where he served as chief resident. An accomplished surgeon, he has performed more than 12,000 intraocular procedures including cataract surgeries, implantable contact lenses, glaucoma procedures and corneal transplants. He has been performing LASIK surgery since 1998. Dr. Roël is a member of the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy and the Lions Club. He is also a lifetime member of the Master Gardeners. Dr. Roël is married to P. Kathryn “Katie” Hicks, professor emerita of art at USC Upstate. The couple continues to be strong supporters of USC Upstate, demonstrating a fondness for nature and art.