Building Details

We need your help to expand these efforts and usher the Speed School into its next era. Your donation will support a bold new building that will serve as a nexus of hands-on education, cutting-edge research and student life. This new building will include classrooms, a makerspace, high-tech lab facilities, space for engagement, events and more.

Numerous naming and branding opportunities are available. Together, we can build on UofL’s already strong foundation, driving Kentucky’s innovation economy forward and producing graduates ready to lead industrial growth.

Space Naming Opportunities

Naming and Branding Opportunities:

• Atrium (two-story central space with visibility of high impact programs) 
• Engineering Garage and Innovation Studio Collaboration Hub (Competition Team Lounge, Huddle and Team Collaboration Room) 
• Large Active Learning Classrooms 
• Engineering Fundamentals 111 Instructional Lab & Maker Space 
• Presentation Room (admissions/outreach and large meetings) 
• The Café and/or Café Dining Area

Student Success

Over time, Speed School has developed a strong and impressive system of support teams dedicated to assisting students. These teams include Admissions Counselors, Academic Counselors, Tutors, Student Success Coordinators, Co-op Counselors, and more. With the availability of these resources, an increasing number of our students have been able to find the necessary support to excel on their academic journey.

Currently, these support teams are located on different floors and in multiple buildings, which can be inconvenient for students, especially for those in their first year who may not be familiar with the specific help they require or where to find it.

The construction of a new building will greatly enhance the interaction among our student success teams and improve our students’ access to and utilization of these services. The plan entails consolidating all the support groups in a single connected office suite. A central help desk at the main entrance will efficiently assess the needs of students, ensuring they receive the most appropriate support services. Shared collaborative spaces will facilitate regular meetings among the different teams, and shared office support will streamline internal operations. Additionally, students seeking assistance from other support areas will be easily connected, ensuring they are fully informed about the resources available to them.

This new building will serve as a valuable “home base” for our students, especially during their first year. It will house their classes, provide access to tutoring, enable meetings with Academic and co-op counselors, host student success seminars, offer study spaces and meeting rooms for student groups, feature an informal recreational area, and much more. It is indeed an exciting time for our students as they benefit from these enhanced facilities.

Classrooms and Engineering Garage

The University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering is taking a bold step forward by creating state-of-the-art classrooms and engineering garage space. This initiative aims to provide engineering students with exceptional hands-on learning opportunities and dedicated team workspaces for competitions. The benefits of these modern facilities are immense and will significantly enhance the educational experience for students.

The new classrooms will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and resources, creating an immersive learning environment for engineering students. These spaces will facilitate interactive lectures, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and innovative project work. With access to advanced equipment and tools, students will have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world engineering challenges. The state-of-the-art classrooms will foster creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills development, preparing students to excel in their future careers.

Additionally, the engineering garage space will serve as a hub for hands-on learning and competition team activities. This dedicated area will provide ample room for students to work on projects, build prototypes, and conduct experiments. It will be equipped with specialized tools, machinery, and materials to support various engineering disciplines. The garage space will not only enhance students’ technical skills but also promote teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities. Engineering students will have the opportunity to participate in competitions, where they can apply their knowledge, learn from their peers, and showcase their innovations. This collaborative environment will inspire creativity, foster a sense of community, and instill a passion for engineering among the students of the Speed School.

Overall, the creation of state-of-the-art classrooms and engineering garage space at the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering will provide students with exceptional learning opportunities and foster a culture of hands-on exploration and teamwork. This investment in cutting-edge facilities reflects the commitment of the institution to deliver a world-class engineering education and empower the next generation of innovative engineers.

Research and Innovation Powerhouse

The University of Louisville is a premier metropolitan research institution working to expand understanding and develop innovations that save and improve lives. At UofL’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering, researchers are leading the way to invent more durable building materials, find sustainable energy solutions, advance artificial intelligence, robotics, and so much more.

Currently, many of our research labs are small or dated, limiting work and innovation. Due to the limited space, researchers from the same lab may also be spread across several buildings, creating a barrier to collaboration.

The new engineering building will address these challenges by creating new space for large, cutting-edge labs outfitted with the latest technology and equipment. Specifically, the second and third floors will house lab space for UofL’s Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, where researchers will study solar power, green fuels and materials and more.

This innovative work already has produced new products, industry partnerships and innovative startups, helping to revolutionize the way we live and work and catalyzing economic development. This research, and these new labs, also create hands-on learning opportunities for our students — the opportunity to work side-by-side with experts on the biggest challenges of today, so they graduate ready to lead tomorrow.

To learn more about how you can help usher the Speed School into its next era, please contact Teresa Leezer at (502) 852-4729.