Kent State Univeristy College of Aeronautics and Engineering (Kent CAE) building expansion was opened this semester to Kent CAE students and broader community. The building expansion adds 44,000 square feet to the existing building and features The Henry and Louise Timken Atrium which will be used as a community collaboration space and to conduct unmanned aircraft research. The expansion includes adaptable classrooms and research labs as well as distinct new areas for student engagement and hands-on learning, including the Bot Bunker, cyber.domain, Maker Alley and The Runway.
This expansion project is critical, given the need identified through enrollment demand, as well as the needs of industry in Northeast Ohio, the state of Ohio and beyond. Kent CAE is unique in the country, in that it is the only college that combines the disciplines of aeronautics, engineering and engineering technology in one cohesive college, thereby enabling cross-disciplinary synergy in academic programs and research. Programs such as Mechatronics Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, and Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) Operations are unique in Ohio, providing much-needed expertise in these emerging technical disciplines.