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For years, the Annex \u2014 a large building in the shadow of the Engineering building \u2014 has served as a storage space for the College of Engineering & Science\u2019s unused and outdated equipment. The College knew, though, it had to make better use of it.<\/p>\n
On Nov. 14, the University officially opened the new space. The Steve & Kathy McShane Makerspace & Collaboratory has been designed as a workshop for students from different disciplines to work together and share ideas as they work on projects, competition teams and product refinement with an eye toward commercialization and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s already doing that, CES Dean Katherine Snyder \u201989, \u201993 told the crowd who attended the grand opening, blessing and reception: In one area, an architecture class was meeting while in another, Engineering students were machining metal parts for a class project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a place where ideas come to life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The space was named for the lead donors to the project Steve \u201966 and Kathy McShane, though funds came from many donors and friends, including the estate of Patricia Scanlon \u201955, William \u201972 and Suzanne \u201972 Wales, Chris \u201964 and Mary Fette, Mark Proulx \u201976 and Nancy Kuehnoel, Arthur Haman \u201955, Gene \u201969 and Janet \u201969 Robinson, Edward \u201963 and Mary Jo \u201962 Eick, and Randal Murphy \u201959.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir dedication to our students and their future is inspiring,\u201d Snyder said.<\/p>\n