The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering are getting ready to break ground on a design, integration and prototyping studio, the latest of the eSpace Engineering, Innovation and Experience learning facilities.
The new building will replace classrooms and offices in the Engineering Center G-wing with open, engaging space designed to build excitement about engineering and foster collaboration. The goal is to introduce freshmen to engineering thought processes and concepts through hands-on, problem-solving projects.
Inside, two main rooms will have capacity for 40 students each. With an array of tools and resources at their disposal, students will be tasked with figuring out an engineering solution to a problem, including design, materials and production of a demo to show that it works.
Each room is equipped with high-end computers to power engineering applications. Interactive design areas, projection screens, whiteboards and writeable glass wall panels that line the exterior encourage collaboration. The majority of the room is modular—movable tables, rolling cabinets with tools and power cables that can be pulled from above—allowing flexibility to accommodate a wide spectrum of learning experiences from classroom lectures to large-scale design and demonstration.
Finished projects can be showcased in display cases at the front of the room, or put out for public view in front of the glass panes.
Construction is scheduled to begin in March and be completed in time for Fall classes. Updates will be posted on In the Loop.
