New MEB will transform MechSE education and innovation

10/8/2018 Julia Stackler

Written by Julia Stackler

The Department of Mechanical Science & Engineering at the University of Illinois, is poised to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Mechanical Engineering Building, at 1206 W. Green St. in Urbana.

On Friday, October 12, top officials from the U of I along with special guests will help MechSE kick off the extensive renovation of 60,000 square feet of MEB and construction of a 25,000 square foot addition, at the corner of Green Street and Goodwin Avenue.

The event, part of the campus’ Homecoming festivities, will take place at 2:00 pm, and is open to the campus and Urbana-Champaign communities.

The project—“Transform MEB”—is the department’s largest undertaking ever, with an estimated cost of $41 million. Once completed, it is expected to bolster the department’s place among the nation’s elite engineering programs. The reconfigured MEB will feature active-learning classrooms and a state-of-the-art complex of integrated, instructional, and project laboratories. With nearly 7,000 square feet of makerspace, the new spaces will inspire creativity and foster teamwork, giving MechSE students greater opportunities to work, interact, and learn in an environment optimized for true innovation. The addition will include a 3,000 square foot open-design student center and will feature a Starbucks as well as dedicated space for projects, meetings, corporate events, and more.

Construction is set to conclude in summer 2021, with classes beginning in the new MEB that fall.  


Share this story

This story was published October 8, 2018.