Engineering a More Connected Future
At the University of Toledo, the College of Engineering set out to transform a former 1920s glass factory into a modern hub for education, research, and partnership.
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University of Toledo
College of Engineering
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Location
Toledo, Ohio
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Year
2024
While students are preparing for careers shaped by innovation, their learning environment has to be just as innovative. That environment has to bring people, ideas, tools, and industry partners together in ways that reflect how engineering work happens in the real world.
Innovation begins with curiosity. It grows when people have the opportunity to explore ideas, solve problems together, and learn by doing. The most effective engineering environments don’t simply support instruction. They create connections between education, industry, and discovery, preparing students for the collaborative nature of engineering in the real world.
More than an engineering facility, the College of Engineering creates a place where education, innovation, and industry come together.
It prepares students not only to enter the workforce, but to help shape its future. Through thoughtful adaptive reuse, Champlin Studios helped create an environment that brings together students, faculty, researchers, and more than 20 industry partners in one connected learning community. Flexible teaching spaces, maker environments, collaborative commons, and research areas support hands-on learning while encouraging the exchange of ideas across disciplines.
The design builds on the building’s industrial heritage while looking confidently toward the future. A central atrium and open stair encourage everyday interaction, creating opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and innovation to happen naturally. Throughout the building, students learn alongside faculty and industry professionals, gaining experiences that reflect the way engineering is practiced beyond the classroom.
