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Expanding the future of Aeronautics and Engineering The grand opening of the new expansion to the Aeronautics and Engineering Building adds much-needed space for the study of emerging technologies By Julie Miller, Kent State Magazine
Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering (CAE) celebrated a milestone in October with the grand opening of the new building expansion, located on the southwest side of the Aeronautics and Engineering Building on the Kent Campus. Construction began in 2021 and was completed in time to receive a record number of new aeronautics and engineering students for the 2023 fall semester. “Expansion was absolutely necessary,” says Christina Bloebaum, PhD, dean of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. “The college is larger than ever. We now have more than 1,280 students.” University leadership, students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and special guests attended the opening event as part of Homecoming Weekend activities. More than 175 attendees participated in this special event, which included tours and student demonstrations. The festivities began with a special space dedication and appreciation luncheon for representatives of the Timken Foundation of Canton, which contributed to this project. The building’s new Henry and Louise Timken Atrium was named in honor of the couple, who were pioneers in flight. Henry and Louise Timken shared a fascination with aircraft and flying and were instrumental in establishing the Akron-Canton Airport. The couple owned several private aircraft, which they began purchasing in the 1930s. Henry Timken was among the first to purchase a privately owned jet, and subsequently owned a Learjet, which emboldened Louise Timken to become the first woman in the United States to be type-rated to fly a Learjet. [A type rating is an additional certification on a license that qualifies pilots to operate a particular make and model of an aircraft.]
WINTER 2024
