Construction Projects
Virginia Commonwealth Shows Off New Engineering Research Building — Virtually
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/04/21
![Virginia Commonwealth Shows Off New Engineering Research Building — Virtually](/-/media/EDU/THEJournal/2021-Editorial/20210204vcu1.jpg)
Virginia
Commonwealth University's College
of Engineering is celebrating the opening of its new
Engineering Research Building this week — virtually.
According to the
university, the 133,000-square-foot building is intended to support
advanced research and economic development initiatives with a design
that emphasizes makerspaces, collaborative research facilities and
flexible gathering areas. Maker resources will include 3D printing,
bench electrical fabrication, tabletop equipment and hand tools,
industrial-scale manual and CNC mills and lathes.
![Virginia Commonwealth Shows Off New Engineering Research Building — Virtually](/-/media/EDU/THEJournal/2021-Editorial/20210204vcu2.jpg)
Situated in in close
proximity to both one of the institution's engineering buildings and
its School of Business, the new structure significantly expands the
college's laboratory capacity.
![Virginia Commonwealth Shows Off New Engineering Research Building — Virtually](/-/media/EDU/THEJournal/2021-Editorial/20210204vcu3.jpg)
Among the features
of the new facility are:
-
Interdisciplinary
research laboratories;
-
Experiential
learning facilities;
-
Meeting and
gathering spaces;
-
Informal
meeting and study areas;
-
A career
services center;
-
Wired outdoor
work and gathering spaces; and
-
The "Ram
Bytes" café.
University and
elected officials were expected to participate in a ribbon
cutting broadcast and tour over Zoom on Feb. 3, 2021.
![Virginia Commonwealth Shows Off New Engineering Research Building — Virtually](/-/media/EDU/THEJournal/2021-Editorial/20210204vcu4.jpg)
Planning was
initially done in 2015. The design was done by Richmond-based
architecture firm Baskervill
and Boston-based firm Goody
Clancy.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.