Kent State Board Approves College of Aeronautics and Engineering Building Addition

During its quarterly meeting last week, the Kent State University Board of Trustees approved an addition to the university’s Aeronautics and Engineering Building. The College of Aeronautics and Engineering opened in spring 2015, and since then, enrollment has grown enough to require additional space for faculty research and student classes and labs.

According to a press release, the building’s three-story addition will measure in at 41,449 gross square feet and feature classrooms, instructional and research laboratories, active teaching classrooms, cyber classrooms, networking labs, and faculty offices.

Kent State College of Aeronautics and Engineering addition

Design and construction documents are scheduled for completion by August. After bidding and contract negotiations, groundbreaking should take place in October 2021 for a 14-month construction process. The new facility would open to faculty and students in time for the spring 2023 semester.

The project’s estimated price tag is $19.6 million. Of this, $14.1 million is slated to come from 2020 bond proceeds, $4 million from local funds, and $1.5 million from philanthropic gifts to the university.

A press release states that enrollment in Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering has increased by 52 percent since 2019 and by 7 percent since 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic. A gap between the available workforce and industry needs sets up a wide variety of opportunities for new graduates.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

    Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University.

  • Lawrence Group Announces Expansion of Student Housing Studio

    Integrated planning and design firm Lawrence Group recently announced that it has hired Nick Naeger, AIA, as the new Associate Principal / Senior Project Manager at its headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., according to a news release.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Geometrik

    Armstrong World Industries, designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications like ceilings, walls, and metal solutions, recently announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik, according to a news release. The British Columbian Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

  • California School District Starts Construction on Public Safety Center

    The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) recently announced that construction has begun on a new public safety center that will house the district’s safety and security programs. According to a news release, the James Ramos Center for Public Safety will measure in at 17,140 square feet and contain the district’s Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, and cadet program.

Digital Edition