The Rebirth of Engineering South
Monday, January 10, 2022
Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | kristi.wheeler@okstate.edu
The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has seen many transformations in the last decade, now it is time for Engineering South to join in on the renovations.
The 82-year-old building is set to join the plethora of buildings that CEAT has built and renovated recently.
They include: CEAT’s new flagship undergraduate lab ENDEAVOR; the renovation of floors 2-5 in Engineering North; and the creation of the CEAT Student Excellence Center on the first floor of the Advanced Technology Research Center (ATRC).
On the north campus, there have been improvements to the Bert Cooper Lab; the addition to Fire Protection Publications (FPP); and the creation of the innovative unmanned systems focused EXCELSIOR building.
Since 1939, ES has provided CEAT a high-profile location in the heart of campus adjacent to Edmon Low Library and legacy walk. This historic structure has been the longtime home for the Schools of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), as well as Civil and Environmental Engineering (CIVE).
The building has played an important role in the life of the college and is embedded in the hearts of CEAT alumni.
ES was the first building on campus totally devoted to engineering. When it was built, all CEAT departments, except for architecture, were housed in ES. In addition to providing numerous classrooms, offices and laboratories, the building hosted the campus amateur radio station and provided OSU and CEAT with a large campus classroom/ auditorium.
While the bones are strong, the building is showing its age. The HVAC system struggles to meet comfort and air quality standards; the roof leaks; the elevator is under-sized; and most of all, the layout of the interior offices, classrooms and labs are inefficient in today’s academic environment, plus it looks completely worn out.
Renovation of this historic building is now underway. The nationally recognized and award-winning architecture firm of Rand Elliott Architects has worked with CEAT faculty and staff to make ES new again.
While the aesthetics of the exterior facade will remain intact to preserve OSU’s campus heritage, the interior will be transformed into a cutting-edge environment for faculty, staff, and students. All four floors of the interior will be gutted and are designed to propel ES into the 21st century.
The first floor will provide a campus front door to CEAT Recruiting, Scholarships, Career Services, and Special Programs and will include a classroom and collaborative meeting spaces. An addition on the east end will host the new Zink Center for Competitive Innovation and the state-of-the-art Chickasaw STEM Auditorium.
The second floor will provide a new home for ECE and the third floor will host the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). CIVE has already moved to its newly renovated home on the second floor of EN.
“ES will provide CEAT with an innovative and exciting new facility that will inspire faculty and students and excite potential CEAT students about the possibilities of meaningful careers in engineering, architecture and technology,” said Randy Seitsinger, associate dean for Academic Affairs. "Rand Elliott Architects has done a great job of providing an inspiring design which represents CEAT’s forward thinking curriculums. The new homes for ECE and MAE will provide faculty with stimulating spaces and the first floor will be a great new front door for the college. The Zink Center for Competitive Innovation and Chickasaw STEM auditorium will provide CEAT with new programming and innovative spaces to elevate student learning and success.”
Photos by: Kristi Wheeler
Story by: Kristi Wheeler | IMPACT Magazine