Engineering in a Vernacular Setting

The Innovation and Design Education Building provides state-of-the-art amenities for student at the students College of Engineering, Technology, and Aeronautics (CETA) a place to design, create, and mentor one another, while paying homage to the rural landscape of the area. Conceived as a teaching tool with visible structural elements, ductwork, and piping systems, the building was delivered through a highly collaborative design-build approach.

The building complements the adjacent Engineering Annex and features teaching labs, flexible classrooms, and a computer lab. A café and array of collaboration spaces foster interaction and provide a home for the building users from the new Engineering department. There are also spaces within the building that support 2D/3D printing, materials science, and robotics. Opened in early 2020, the building is a 67,000 SF state-of-the-art academic building that houses four Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate (CDIO) hubs where students can work on projects from conception through operation, turning them into real-world solutions and products.

The award-winning design of the Innovation and Design Education Building is inspired by vernacular building types such as covered bridges, barns, and the turn-of-the-century mill buildings of Manchester, New Hampshire. Sustainability guides the choice of mechanical systems and materials to make the building environmentally responsible and long-lasting.