Virginia Commonwealth Shows Off New Engineering Research Building — Virtually

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 02/04/21

Virginia Commonwealth Shows Off New Engineering Research Building — Virtually

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

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

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

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.

Featured

  • Greenheck Receives Sourcewell Cooperative Contract

    Air movement, control, conditioning, and distribution equipment solutions provider Greenheck recently announced that it has been awarded a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract, according to a news release. The HVAC Systems contract will allow Greenheck the opportunity to expand opportunities in government procurement and other public agencies in North America.

  • IFMA Appoints New President & CEO

    The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), based in Houston, Texas, recently announced its appointment of Michael Geary, CAE, as its new President & CEO, according to a news release. Geary’s previous role was as CEO of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and the SMPS Foundation.

  • California High School Starts Construction on New CTE Building

    Analy High School, part of the West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently broke ground on a new Career Technical Education (CTE) Building, according to a news release. The 15,000-square-foot facility will offer specialized facilities for students in engineering, welding, culinary arts, agricultural sciences, and design thinking.

  • UTEP Celebrates Construction Milestone for New Academic Building

    The University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, Texas, recently held a “topping out” ceremony for its new learning complex, Texas Western Hall, according to university news. The construction milestone marks the placement of the last beam of a structure in progress.