Kent State Breaks Ground on Aeronautics and Engineering Building Expansion

Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently broke ground on a 44,000-square-foot expansion to its Aeronautics and Engineering Building. The new space will contain amenities like collaborative spaces, teaching and research labs and administrative space. The renovation project comes as the College of Aeronautics and Engineering’s enrollment has increased by 53.6% since 2018 and 7% since 2020.

A gift from The Timken Foundation of Canton to the tune of $1.5 million helped the university move up the timeline of the project, whose overall price tag is an estimated $19.6 million. The facility’s new, two-story atrium will be dedicated to the foundation. University administrators have also reallocated about $12 million internally to support the physical space necessary to properly train students in designing, building and operating advanced technology.

Kent State Aeronautics and Engineering Building Atrium
The rendering shows the two-story atrium of Kent State University’s Aeronautics and Engineering Building expansion.

“The successful completion of this project as part of our master plan will support Kent State’s ability to produce the highly qualified STEM graduates needed for the state’s and region’s manufacturing and engineering sectors,” said Kent State President Todd Diacon. ‘We’re very grateful that The Timken Foundation of Canton has partnered with us to enable the College of Aeronautics and Engineering to contribute eve more to the sustainability of the region’s engineering and manufacturing workforce—a vision both organizations share.”

The building’s expansion will feature a two-story atrium that will also serve as a space for members of the unmanned aircraft systems flight operations program to fly indoors. It will also include a 3,000-square-foot auditorium; Maker Alley, which will include three teaching labs (the Pattern and Fabrication Laboratory, the Maker Space and the Design and innovation Laboratory); the cyber.domain, which will consist of a Cyber Range Laboratory, esports arena and Networking and Server Laboratory; and a Simulation and Cybersecurity Laboratory.

“Kent State recognizes the importance of virtual education in this rapidly changing landscape of higher education,” said Christina Bloebaum, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering. “The new expansion will also incorporate the latest technology to enable synchronous delivery of virtual education. The expansion’s two new classrooms, as well as teaching laboratories, will be equipped to enable virtual delivery in a streaming, synchronous mode, which will also support the college’s efforts to create pathway opportunities with our Regional Campuses and partner organizations.”

The university officially broke ground on the project on Friday, Oct. 1, as part of its Homecoming Weekend.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Image courtesy of Armstrong International

    The Modern Hot Water System Approach to Keep Higher Education Buildings Safe and Operational

    Higher education campuses face unique structural and operational demands. With a range of old and new buildings, a variety of facility types, and ambitious sustainability goals, it's essential that no aspect of infrastructural performance is overlooked. Facility managers must be equipped to provide a safe, reliable and efficient space for students, faculty and guests.

  • Texas K–12 District to Build New Elementary, High Schools

    The High Island Independent School District on the Bolivar Peninsula in Southeast Texas recently announced that construction on a new elementary school and a new high school will begin in January 2026, according to local news. Funding will come from a $27.9-million bond passed in May 2025.

  • Austin International School Library Renovation

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Austin International School has been recognized with an EDS 2025 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Allegion US Partners with Two Colleges for Mobile Credential Technology

    Allegion US recently announced a partnership with Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and Denison College, in conjunction with Transact + CBORD, to install mobile credential technologies campus-wide, according to a news release. Implementing Mobile Student ID into Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will allow students access to campus facilities, amenities, and residence halls using just their phones.

Digital Edition