Keck Center for Science and Engineering Opens at Chapman University

The Keck Center for Science and Engineering on the campus of Chapman University in Orange, CA, opened its doors to students and faculty in August, just in time for the new academic year. Supported by a $20 million grant from W.M. Keck Foundation, this game-changing facility spans nearly an entire city block and offers 140,000 square feet of space for learning, research, and collaboration. Home to Schmid College of Science and Technology, the building will also house Dale E. ’58 and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering, opening in fall 2020.

KECK

The Keck Center is comprised of three floors and divided into two sections: the Hall of Science and the Hall of Technology and Engineering, bridged by a grand arch that serves as the focal point of the building. In total, the center includes 18 teaching labs, 22 research labs, 47 faculty and graduate student offices, three multipurpose classrooms, and six collaboration areas for students and faculty. The facility also features an 833-seat outdoor amphitheater/stadium and a 347-space, two-story subterranean parking garage.

To enhance interdisciplinary work, the Keck Center features high-tech equipment and design elements such as writable glass walls within the science, technology, and engineering labs.

Featured

  • bar graph with the bars made out of abstract cinder blocks and other construction materials

    Spaces4Learning 2025 Trends in K–12: Materials & Construction

    With 2025 well underway, it’s time to take a look at some broader trends submitted by you, our Spaces4Learning readership. We asked for your thoughts on topics like classroom design, health & safety, materials & construction, and technology in both K–12 and higher-education environments. Below is a roundup of 2025 trends in K–12 materials and construction from the experts in the trenches.

  • Active Learning Classroom

    Striking a Balance: The Keys to Renovating Science Education Buildings for the 21st Century

    The recent renovation of the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) provides a roadmap for facilities managers tasked with balancing budget constraints, modern pedagogical demands, and long-term sustainability.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • Kimball International Debuts Health & Education Experience Center

    Kimball International recently opened a new facility at its corporate headquarters in Jasper, Ind., that will act as a hands-on showroom for a variety of its furniture products and solutions, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot Health & Education Experience Center was originally designed by Gensler as the headquarters for Kimball International’s National brand.

Digital Edition