Prairie View A&M University Debuts New Academic Building

Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, recently opened a new, three-story Engineering Classroom and Research Building (EnCARB), according to a news release. The 106,000-square-foot facility provides academic, research, and technical space for the university’s Roy G. Perry College of Engineering. The university partnered with integrated design and engineering firm Stantec for the project.

The new building features more than 30 labs for chemical, civil engineering, and mechanical departments, as well as multidisciplinary research in fields like space exploration, data analytics, robotics and artificial intelligence, 3D manufacturing, and more. It also includes built-in flexible spaces to support different pedagogies and a maker space.

“EnCARB will allow PVAMU to take their laboratory instruction and research pursuits to the next level with state-of-the-art facilities that are flexible by design and will allow them to be nimble and adapt in the fast-evolving field of engineering,” said Stantec principal Cynthia Labelle. “Students will learn and grow across many engineering disciplines in a future-focused learning environment.”

EnCARB will also be one of a small number of U.S. facilities to feature a microgravity drop tower for research regarding space-related conditions. Stantec has previously completed STEM-related facilities at universities like Yale, the University of Texas at Dallas, Central Michigan University, and the University of Texas at Permian Basin, according to the news release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Opportunity by Design Framework

    Opportunity by Design

    Educational improvement efforts often focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and intervention systems while treating the physical school building as background. But school design is not a passive backdrop to learning — it is a structural lever for equity.