Engineering Design Center gets an upgrade, expands student access
Engineering Design Center Director Matthew Briggs (left) gives mechanical engineering senior Jack Menn a tour of the revamped space in the University of Arizona Education North building.
The Engineering Design Center has a new home at 1501 E. Speedway Blvd., bringing one of the College of Engineering’s most beloved makerspaces closer to the University of Arizona campus.
With 24/7 access, the EDC serves as a year-round hub for engineering students to transform sketches into working prototypes. Students gain access to tools, equipment and technical support needed to design, build and test their creations.
“It puts the Engineering Design Center closer to where students learn and collaborate every day, making it easier for them to access the space,” said Nikki Heath, EDC business administrator. “It also gives us a larger, more flexible facility that better supports hands-on learning and student innovation.”
Completed over winter break, the move is part of the college’s ongoing efforts to fuel experiential learning with fabrication spaces. Students juggling coursework, jobs and team projects now face fewer logistical barriers and shorter travel times.
“It strengthens the EDC’s role as a key student resource,” said Larry Head, director of the Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program and professor of systems and industrial engineering.
Donors boost student success
As a major proving ground for undergraduates in the Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program, the EDC received funding for the move with a generous gift from the Berge family, who established the program endowment.
The Engineering Design Center offers free access to 3D printers, and the new space will support the purchase of larger printers in the near future.
“We now have expanded work areas, ground-floor access that improves accessibility and the ability to accommodate many more students,” said Matthew Briggs, director of the EDC. “It also includes a dedicated classroom that supports collaboration, instruction and events.”
More square footage means room for additional equipment, including larger 3D printers, Briggs added.
“The EDC has so much to offer our students, and it’s always exciting to see them realize the full potential of what’s available,” Briggs said. “It’s not just about the tools, but the depth of learning they gain here — and all of it is available to them at no cost.”
With expanded capacity, upgraded equipment and increased opportunity for collaboration, the EDC now supports creativity at every stage of the design process. More students can move from concept to prototype in a space built to meet their needs.
“Community support made this move possible and those donations continue to expand opportunities for our students,” Heath said. “We hope others will consider giving to help us grow and support even more hands-on learning.”
Want to support the EDC? Email Larry Head for details.