The four-story, 114,000-square-foot building, sitting just behind the complex on Eastern Parkway, will include classrooms, a makerspace, high-tech lab facilities and room for events and student engagement. The $90 million project is supported by $65 million in state funding and $3 million in private donations, with a fundraising campaign on-going to secure the balance.

“UofL has long led the charge in driving innovation, economic growth and providing students with the education and experience they need to succeed in the real world,” said President Kim Schatzel. “With this new state-of-the-art building, we accelerate those efforts, creating bold new opportunities for our students, researchers and the Commonwealth.”Ěý

The additional space will support UofL efforts to fill Kentucky’s talent pipeline with STEM graduates who are prepared to harness disruptive technologies across a range of industries, including cybersecurity, electric vehicles, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and many more. While the Kentucky’s production of these critical workers has grown, it still lags behind neighboring states and the national average.Ěý

“Extending Kentucky’s record-breaking economic momentum depends on our ability to innovate and strengthen our workforce,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This new investment and partnership with UofL shows our commitment to being a destination for talented people and businesses looking to succeed in the key industries of the future.”

The building will also house a number of cutting-edge research labs aimed at providing hands-on learning opportunities, developing new technologies and collaborating with industry. That includes , whose work drives discovery, advancements and new products in solar, biofuels and energy storage, efficiency and materials.

“Conn Center forges partnerships and inspires many students to address global energy challenges,” said center Director Mahendra Sunkara. “With this new space, we can accelerate the technology necessary to make Louisville a global leader in energy research, one that positively impacts the regional economy.”

Louisville is a hub for engineering and manufacturing, being with a total workforce of more than 82,500. With this new building, UofL can help maintain that positive momentum by spurring new breakthroughs and generating ready to solve problems and lead.

“Louisville is poised for enormous growth, and UofL research and graduates are a key part of our ongoing and future success,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “I’m proud to support this investment in UofL, Louisville’s top-tier research university, that will create new opportunities for people and businesses throughout our city.”

Construction is already underway and is expected to be complete in summer 2025, just in time for the Speed School’s centennial celebration. Founded in 1925, the school has since grown enrollment to more than 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees across eight engineering disciplines.Ěý

“The Speed School has a well-earned century-long reputation as a place for ideas that will transform and reimagine our world,” said Dean Emmanuel Collins. “This new building will be a game changer for student success, our cutting-edge research and more. We’re both dreamers and doers, and this new facility is a place for both.”Ěý

The facility was designed by Luckett & Farley in collaboration with SmithGroup and Whittenberg Construction is the general contractor. UofL is launching a fundraising campaign to secure remaining capital needed to complete the project. Learn more and donate atĚý.

The consortium — known as REBECCA, short for Regional Energy Business, łÉČËÖ±˛Ą, and Commercialization Convergence Accelerator — has been selected for a $500,000 Phase 1 planning grant under the U.S. Tech Hubs Program. The program, authorized by the federal CHIPS and Science Act, aims to transform high-potential regions across the country into globally competitive innovation centers.

“UofL is a top-tier, community-engaged research institution, and we’ve developed a solid track record of partnering with industry to solve important problems,” said Kim Schatzel, president of UofL. “With REBECCA, we are excited to build on UofL’s already impactful energy research and work with our industry partners to develop Kentucky’s energy strength.”

At UofL, work on REBECCA will be led by researchers Mahendra Sunkara and Sundar Atre in the . Consortium partners include the , , and , a Haier company.Ěý

Together, they will use the Phase 1 Tech Hubs funding to study the region’s energy economy and develop a plan for its continued growth, including needed technology, infrastructure and workforce. As a successful Phase 1 applicant, REBECCA also is eligible to compete for up to $75 million in Phase 2 funding to implement their plan.Ěý

“The UofL REBECCA consortium aligns with Louisville’s economic development and net-zero energy goals,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “We are very eager to see this project bring new green jobs and advance our state’s investment and leadership in renewable energy technology.”

Energy is a , with more than a third of all energy produced going toward agriculture, the production of food and beverage, manufacturing and other industry. As both the public and private sectors invest in new energy technologies — such as renewables — there’s a need for more innovation, infrastructure and .

“We’re excited to be a part of this project and what the future holds for this region and job growth in the renewable energy space,” said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances, a Haier company.Ěý “This aligns with our focus on net zero energy homes, and how we can innovate products that use less energy and work with renewable energy sources and energy storage solutions.”

Beyond developing a strategy for the energy Tech Hub in Kentucky, the consortium will conduct workforce development programs and partner with UofL researchers on pilot projects related to energy production, use and efficiency. GE Appliances will work on a solar power microgrid, TARC will work to introduce extended-range battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses into the fleet, and Clariant will work on hydrogen storage and delivery.

“We at Clariant are thrilled that UofL will be leading a new Tech Hub focused on the energy transition in Kentucky through the new consortium REBECCA,” said Victor Johnston, head of Clariant’s Louisville R&D Center.Ěý“With our longstanding ties to Louisville, we have had the privilege of partnering with the university for many years on critical research in catalyst development, materials science and cultivating STEM talent. This recognition is well-deserved. We eagerly anticipate continuing our collaboration with REBECCA, which will drive innovations that shape the future of energy.”

UofL has significant expertise in working with industry to innovate in renewable energy and energy efficiency, including through the Speed School’s Conn Center — established more than a decade ago in honor of major donors Hank and Rebecca Conn, for whom REBECCA is named. Emmanuel Collins, dean of the Speed School, said partnership with industry is critical to understanding gaps and growing the state’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy these technologies.

“UofL and the Speed School have a long track-record of success and leadership in energy research and academics,” Collins said. “I’m looking forward to working with our partners to build on that success, strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem and advancing the state’s bright energy future.”

The testing lab, located in the W.S. Speed Building, now is a significantly improved facility for testing the performance of large-scale structural systems including bridge and building components. The lab renovations enhance learning experiences for Speed School students in the civil engineering program as well as research and testing that will provide community, state and federal entities important information for infrastructure needs.

“This is a wonderful addition to Speed School,” said Emmanuel Collins, dean of Speed School. “Facilities like this can really enhance our research and we appreciate that the Dahlem family worked with us to make this happen.”

The donation was the final gift from Dahlem, a UofL civil engineering alumnus who met his wife, Debby, while they were students at UofL. The couple’s children and grandchildren attended a on Sept. 17.

“Knowing my mom and dad, they would have been absolutely thrilled to have this state-of-the-art equipment for students,” said Charlie Dahlem, the couple’s son. “My mom and dad appreciated their experience at UofL. They were very, very thankful for the education they received from UofL and by giving back, they hoped others would have that same opportunity.”

The Dahlem family has provided a total of $3.5 million to UofL, supporting the Ralph Wright Natatorium, the Paris Simulation Center in the School of Medicine, athletics, scholarships and other programs in addition to the Speed School upgrades.

“Mr. Dahlem’s commitment to the university was significant, and yet he never sought personal recognition for his generosity,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “What an incredible way to give, to uplift other people, to honor other people, because none of us gets where we are without the help of family, friends, coaches, teachers and mentors.”

The centerpiece of the Dahlem Infrastructure Structural Testing Lab Facility is a two-actuator loading system manufactured by MTS. The system has the ability to test girders, beams, walls and columns with spans up to 24 feet both horizontally and laterally, with actuator loads up to 248,000 pounds.

“This testing system is the main feature of the laboratory, but the gift also helped us purchase a torsional testing system, a new environmental chamber and a visual strain measuring system and to renovate our construction laboratory and build an overhead crane to service this area,” saidĚýMark McGinley, professor and Endowed Chair for Infrastructure Research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “We very much appreciate the gift and look forward to using it to improve our teaching and research capabilities.”

Those products are then displayed during the Engineering Design and Innovation Showcase, attended by members of the community at the end of the spring semester. Speed Smart toilets and sensor sensitive shower doors are a few of the products the students produced this year.

“This (event) really helped integrate it all and give a better picture of how everything we’ve learned in school can actually be applied to the real world,” said Emily Snyder, engineering student.

That is exactly the point, according to Speed School Dean Emmanuel Collins.

“As a Speed School, our product is our students and how well we train them to do real engineering design,” he said.

Check out more from this event:Ěý

Collins is currently the John H. Seely Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Florida A&M University-Florida State University (FAMU-FSU). He is also founder and director of that institution’s Center for Intelligent Systems, Control and Robotics.

“Dr. Collins brings with him a deep understanding and participation in both graduate and undergraduate education, a strong background in research, an impressive record of encouraging teaching innovation and emphasizing experiential learning, and a great desire to enhance the school’s community involvement with civic agencies and businesses throughout the city, state and region,” said Acting Provost Dale Billingsley.

During his 23 years at FAMU-FSU, Collins was an engaged faculty member and administrator. Prior to his current positions, he served in roles that included engineering professor, associate chair of graduate studies and college director of graduate student recruitment, a role focused on the matriculation and retention of STEM graduate students from underrepresented groups.

“I am truly excited at the opportunity to join the Cardinal family and help provide leadership to the Speed School of Engineering,” said Collins. “I look forward to harnessing the ideas and insights of the faculty, staff and alumni to set and achieve high goals that advance our graduate and undergraduate programs.”

Collins holds bachelor’s degrees from Morehouse College and the Georgia Institute of Technology and, from Purdue University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a doctoral degree in aeronautics and astronautics.