Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus, EERC Texas Building, Architecture

Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC)

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas design by ENNEAD Architects, USA

Sep 26, 2017

Location: The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA

Design: ENNEAD Architects

Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC), UT Austin Campus

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus
photographs © Cockrell School of Engineering-The University of Texas at Austin

Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC), UT Austin Campus, Texas

Engineering building, EERC at UT Austin. The building’s design, centered around the idea of Transparency and Unification, defines a new paradigm for engineering education and research through the integration of undergraduate project-based learning, interdisciplinary graduate research, and a Center for Innovation focused on entrepreneurship.

On September 28, the Cockrell School of Engineering, Education Research Center (EERC), one of the top programs in the country, will officially open its 430,000-square foot glass-filled new facility, designed by Ennead Architects to unite various engineering disciplines, from undergraduate to post-doctorate under one breathtaking glass roof.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

As separate academic “silos” become obsolete and researchers rely more and more on input and technology from multiple disciplines, academic institutions have turned toward building plans that connect different specialties through proximity and direct pathways. Ennead has not only joined previously balkanized departments by housing them in the same building, but unified them further with architectural elements by creating specialized facilities for electrical, computer, aeronautical, chemical, petroleum, mechanical, civil and other engineering programs, while enabling connections and collaborations among them all.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

Engineering Education and Research Center Set to open in 2017, the Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC) will transform the UT Austin campus and further the Cockrell School’s culture of innovation through multidisciplinary teaching and research.

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building

At a glance:

• 430,000 square feet of space in two connected eight-story towers, located at the corner of San Jacinto Boulevard and Dean Keeton Street

• State-of-the-art classrooms, project centers, research labs, an engineering library and a café

• Central hub for engineering student services

• New home for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Cockrell School’s largest department

Photos below © ENNEAD Architects

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building

Background on the building

Over the past decade, Cockrell School and UT Austin leadership have made a commitment to enhancing engineering education in the 21st century. In fall of 2013, the UT System Board of Regents approved a $310 million funding plan, allowing construction to begin.

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building

Last year, the 50-year-old Engineering-Science Building was demolished to make way for the EERC.

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building

Inside the building

• The National Instruments Student Project Center will offer 23,000 square feet of space for designing and creating.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

• The 299-seat James J. and Miriam B. Mulva Conference Center and Auditorium will become the Cockrell School’s largest teaching space and a venue for visiting thought leaders and experts from around the world.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

• 50,000 square feet in the EERC’s north tower will be dedicated to large-scale, multidisciplinary research labs. The south tower will house seven electrical and computer engineering research spaces.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

• The Texas Instruments teaching and project labs will give electrical and computer engineering undergraduates space to build sensors, robots and wearable technologies.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

• The Innovation Center will be the Cockrell School’s first space dedicated to entrepreneurship training and commercialization programming.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

• Overlooking Waller Creek, the E-Loft will provide an inspiring study and meeting area for engineering students.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

Philanthropic support

More than 280 alumni, corporate partners and friends have helped the Cockrell School raise over $65 million — the most ever raised for a building at UT Austin.

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

Lead donors include:
• Miriam and James Mulva, former chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips, $20 million
• James Truchard, co-founder, president and CEO of National Instruments, $10 million
• Renda and Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil, $5 million
• Javaid Anwar, founder and CEO of Midland Energy and Petroplex Energy, $4 million
• Texas Instruments, $3.5 million
• Qualcomm, $2 million

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus images / information from ENNEAD Architects

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building

Engineering Education and Research Center UT Austin Campus building

Ennead Architects

Research building designs

Location: Dean Keeton Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Website: The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

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