BGSU breaks ground on new Technology Engineering Innovation Center

BOWLING GREEN — The fields of engineering and technology are not the same as they were in 1971, which is when the Industrial Education and Technology Building at Bowling Green State University was built.

“Manufacturing was a bit different than it is today, but manufacturing continues to be incredibly important,” BGSU President Rodney Rogers said.

The university in June decided to keep up with those changes by giving the building a $30 million facelift, adding more space and learning opportunities for students in the College of Technology, Architecture, and Applied Engineering.

BGSU celebrated the next chapter of that program and its Technology Building at a groundbreaking for the addition to the Technology Engineering Innovation Center, the building’s new name, on Friday.

“Today’s groundbreaking represents an important milestone for the future of Bowling Green’s longtime engineering programs and a physical representation of the future,” said Drew Forhan, chairman of the university’s board of trustees. “This facility will allow our students to learn in state-of-the-art spaces with advanced technologies that they’re going to need in their careers.”

The new center, which will act as the new home for the program, will feature state-of-the-art engineering and technology equipment, collaborative spaces for both students and professionals, and adaptable learning spaces for student projects and research work.

“Our School of Engineering is one of our fastest-growing programs,” Mr. Rogers said. “We designed an engineering program a little bit different: It’s much more hands-on. It’s not quite as traditional as some other engineering programs across the state. We want to make sure we have programs where, when students come out of here, they’re ready for great careers.”

Those students include senior systems engineering major Jenna Lucas, who’s excited for the future engineers graduating behind her to have access to more resources.

“It’s so exciting to see that BGSU is investing in a new addition to the Technology Building for students like me who embrace an interactive curriculum,” Ms. Lucas said. “This new addition will help future students become more successful in their career field.”

“We at this institution, with the leadership of our trustees, are committed to continuing to invest in academic programs that are going to make a difference in our region, the nation, and the world,” Mr. Rogers said. “This space not only represents how important STEM and engineering education is to the university and the state, but also to graduates like Jenna here in systems engineering, who are going to go out and make all sorts of differences in their communities, companies, and our state.”