Students, faculty and supporters of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) celebrated the debut of the 234,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Engineering Research Building on March 4, 2011 with a dedication event and open house.
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| Images: University of Texas at Arlington |
The landmark center is UTA’s largest academic facility to date and is shared by College of Engineering and College of Science researchers who are exploring new cancer treatments, working to improve detection of deadly viruses and developing systems to help older adults live independently longer, among a multitude of projects.
The Engineering Research Building anchors the Research Quadrangle, which is bordered by the Engineering Lab Building – a facility expanded and upgraded in 2009 – and the existing Nedderman Hall. The new building houses the Departments of Computer Science and Engineering and Bioengineering, but also integrates research teams from biology, biochemistry, genomics, math, neuroscience and physics to foster new, collaborative initiatives.
“This building is an incredible resource that will fuel our research and allow us to take advantage of resources across disciplines,” James D. Spaniolo, UTA’s president, stated in a press release. “Already we are seeing new, promising collaborations – research designed to make a difference in the lives of people and to solve real problems.”
The Engineering Research Building is designed to meet LEED Silver standards for sustainability and incorporates several energy-saving features, including green roofs, windows that make optimal use of natural light and rain and condensate water capture.
“Facilities like this play an important role in attracting innovative researchers and top scholars to our University,” Donald R. Bobbitt, UTA provost and vice president for academic affairs stated. “We’ve been able to pull off some remarkable accomplishments in our facilities to date, and the Engineering Research Building positions us to achieve even more.”
Among the collaborative labs inside the Engineering Research Building is the Regenerative Neurobiology Lab. Bioengineers are building a better system of connecting live neurons with electrodes. The goal: giving amputees more realistic control over prostheses and even restoring their sense of touch.
