Value of Engineering Oval – September 2016

Dear NC State Students, Faculty and Staff:

This country and its economy are constantly moving forward, and I am proud to say that NC State has been a contributing member to that momentum. We have seen our university grow and prosper in recent years, and in turn, we have seen North Carolina’s economy make impressive strides. A great deal of this economic development is due to the growth of industries related to engineering, research and development.

These industries are becoming more and more prevalent across the nation and right here in North Carolina, especially at NC State. Over the last ten years, engineering undergraduate enrollment has increased by 22 percent while graduate enrollment has more than doubled. As the industry continues to grow and produce more technological advancements and job opportunities, so does the demand for high quality educational experiences in these STEM-based fields.

This is why projects like the Engineering Oval are so important. It will better equip NC State to provide undergraduate and graduate students with the tools, resources and space they need to conduct research projects and learn valuable skills. The Engineering Oval Building will provide over 100 classrooms and updated laboratories as well as an engineering education center that will house academic advising for students across all engineering departments and programs. The space provided by this project will allow the Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering to join the other six engineering departments currently located on Centennial Campus.

The plans for the building also include office spaces to support broad research and development initiatives in the areas of advanced materials and manufacturing, robotics and sensor technology, service sector engineering, critical infrastructure and security, transportation and logistics, and energy and environmental systems.

NC State is an outstanding university with a long-standing history of intertwining education and research. I know that this reputation will only continue to grow given the current socio-economic climate and the caliber of people who make up the NC State community.

Sincerely,

Randy Woodson
Chancellor
NC State