Building the Innovation Connection

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Valley State University's new $16 million engineering building expands the opportunities for students to earn the technical expertise, real-world understanding and independent thinking that will continue Michigan’s tradition of innovation and move the region's economy into the future.

The 52,000-square-foot building contains 21 cutting-edge labs, several specialty classrooms, office space and a multitude of unique energy-saving features that make this a great learning environment that is also great for the environment. Kennedy Hall is an eco-friendly facility built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards for high performance and sustainabilty by maintaining standards for water and energy conservation, material selection and indoor environmental quality.

Kennedy Hall was made possible through a public-private effort. The building was funded by $12 million from the State of Michigan and more than $5 million in private donations — $1 million of which has been earmarked to support scholarships, program development and state-of-the-art equipment.

“Kennedy Hall is one of the premier teaching facilities in any college of engineering in the U.S. It provides hands-on opportunites that are second to none,” said Paul Plotkowski, dean of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing. “The expanded capacity will help us immediately address the needs of Michigan industry and employers that are so important to our economy.”

Padnos College of Engineering and Computing was established in 1986 with an enrollment of fewer than 50 students. Currently more than 650 students are enrolled in the program’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Alumni successes are a testament to the program’s quality —100 percent of engineering graduates are either employed or enrolled in graduate study within six months of graduation. Nearly all of the students who take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam pass it — with several years of a 100 percent pass rate. The national average pass rate is 70 percent.

The School of Engineering offers bachelor’s degrees in computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, product design and manufacturing, and interdisciplinary engineering. It also offers master’s programs in electrical and computer engineering, manufacturing operations, mechanical engineering and product design and manufacturing engineering.