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Its Full Steam (plant) Ahead for the School of Engineering
It’s Full Steam (plant) Ahead for the School of Engineering
On April 13, 2021, Shippensburg University celebrated the opening of the new home for the School of Engineering. Located in the remodeled and reimagined Steam Plant at the entrance to campus, the new facility boasts state-of-the-art engineering labs and an eco-friendly and energy efficient design.
During the ceremony, Shippensburg University President Laurie A. Carter reflected on the history of the building and the important role it has played. Right outside the walls of the Steam Plant, the railroad, now the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, delivered goods, services, guests and students to the entrance of campus.
“Now, the Steam Plant once again serves as a link between the university and the world preparing our engineers to solve the big problems of our world. In addition, students working in these labs in the name of academic credit will also simultaneously be working alongside and learning from industry partners in solving their real-world immediate problems. These opportunities will drive, for years to come, directly to career opportunities and deliver solutions to Pennsylvania industry and the workforce,” said Carter.
Beyond academics
The School of Engineering opened for student labs in Spring 2021.
Ship launched its first engineering program, computer engineering, in 2011. Software and electrical engineering followed next, and for nearly a decade all three ABET accredited programs were housed in the Department of Computer Science at the Math and Computing Technologies Center. In 2018, Ship introduced the School of Engineering as civil and mechanical engineering programs were launched.
Engineering students attended class and conducted labs in various locations across camps including Franklin Science Center, the Mathematics and Computing Technologies building and even in the Reed Operations Center. As the programs grew and the lab equipment needs of students expanded, the need for a larger facility that met the needs of students became evident.
Dr. Moayyad AlNasra, chair of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, served on the committee responsible for identifying the state-of-the-art equipment needed for all twelve labs within the new facility. According to AlNasra, “50 percent of the learning is in the labs.”
Construction on the building began in January 2020 after an extensive feasibility study, conducted by Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates. Features of the transformed building include a civil engineering lab, a fabrication lab and welding area. The second level now houses classrooms and additional lab space where students can put their theories into practice.
AlNasra noted that the learning environment provided in the Steam “These opportunities will drive, Plant is required for accreditation, but the real driving force behind the move for years to come, directly to is students. The school wanted to ensure their students receive the hands-on career opportunities and experiences they need to succeed in their fields. deliver solutions to Pennsylvania industry and the workforce.”
“Students can be engineers when they get here. They can do the things engineers do in the field, the way engineers do it in the field. It goes beyond an academic experience on a white board,” explained Dr. Carol Wellington, director of the School of Engineering.
The student experience
Mechanical engineering student Briana Paey says using the new labs and equipment this semester can “put theory into practice.” For mechanical engineering majors specifically, they can now enjoy the splendor of a new manufacturing lab equipped with lathes, bandsaws, a CNC machine, and a 10-ton hydraulic press.
Erika Ebersole, another junior mechanical engineering student, mentioned the challenges of conducting labs in the basement of the Reed Operations Center due to lack of space. She is excited to start working in the new space.
“The lab portions of these classes are so important in order to get real-world experience,” said Ebersole. Many students like Ebersole and Paey were provided glimpses of the equipment awaiting them in the new facility as it was under construction. The wait is finally over, and they can now take full advantage of all that the School of Engineering has to offer.
Ebersole expects that the new lab amenities will also make her a more qualified job candidate. “Having the hands-on experience and knowing how to use the equipment for hardness tests, hydraulic tests, and more will give me a step up in any job/interview I apply for.” She continued, “this new facility will also help me better explore my own interests and determine which type of internships and jobs I would enjoy the most.”
While programs like civil engineering are new at Ship, “the completion of the steam plant shows how seriously the university is taking the development of the school,” said junior civil engineering major Christopher Lehman. From his perspective, the School of Engineering displays Ship’s commitment to the growth of its programs and the students they serve.
Climate Action Plan Commitment Continued
Not only does the newly renovated space serve students, but it further enhances Ship’s commitment to sustainability. In the spring of 2020 President Carter signed the Campus Climate Commitment on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, agreeing to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan by 2023.
The Steam Plant was decommissioned in 2015, and the shift to natural gas reduced the university’s carbon footprint by 31 percent. In the process of repurposing the vacant building, spray-in foam wall insulation, energy efficient windows, and new HVAC equipment with the highest efficiency rating were installed.
Engineering students show off their new academic home.
