University leaders, students, faculty, donors and industry partners gathered at the construction site on the Cal State Fullerton campus where the Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub is taking shape.
Situated adjacent to the engineering and computer science complex, the three-story, 42,000-square-foot Innovation Hub will serve as a “catalyst for discovery and industry innovation,” officials within the College of Engineering and Computer Science said.
The gathering was held to commemorate construction and campaign milestones.
The space will “empower tomorrow’s engineers to solve real-world challenges, fuel economic growth and elevate Orange County as a global technology leader,“ officials said.
The Innovation Hub represents a profound shift in how the university prepares the next generation of engineers and computer scientists, said Sang June Oh, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
“This will be a place where learning extends beyond lectures, exams into hands-on discovery, where students move from solving technical problems to addressing global challenges,” Oh said. “It will break down traditional silos and create shared spaces where engineers and computer scientists collaborate across disciplines, alongside faculty and industry partners.”
The Innovation Hub is being constructed to accommodate enrollment growth and to prepare the next generation of workers for highly skilled and technical careers in the region.
Expected to open by fall 2027, the facility will include a GPS/navigation and critical systems lab, cybersecurity range and data center, advanced manufacturing lab, advanced computer and artificial intelligence lab, drone experience lab and bio and health technology lab.
The collaborative space also features a 120-seat multipurpose room.
“Last summer, we stood right here on this site just to break ground,” CSUF president Ronald Rochon said. “And now, right behind me, we see this amazing edifice just growing day by day. Today, we are seeing real progress take shape. We’re driving at Cal State University Fullerton to enhance student learning experience, engagement and productivity.
“This work includes the incredible support from many partners here today, distributing pathways for current and transfer students in all of our STEM fields, expanding mentorship opportunities, providing career readiness, and skills training from emerging tech fields.”
Administrators acknowledged the key role that donors, alumni, community partners and industry leaders have played to make the $85 million project a reality.
Alumnus Bill Ruh, lead donor and Innovation Hub co-chair, recounted his time as a Cal State Fullerton computer science student who went on to become chief executive officer of GE Digital.
Ruh has also served as adjunct faculty and is a generous donor to the university.
“This is about enabling students and faculty to envision the future, to allow them to create, explore and lead in innovation,” Ruh said. “And if you think about it, it goes beyond that. It becomes a gravitational force from which the business community, the broader Cal State Fullerton family, and the entire OC community can come together, and they can take that innovation and make it happen.”
To memorialize construction and campaign milestones, attendees were invited to write inspirational messages on a steel column on the new building.
Haley Barrios Gomez, 21, a mechanical engineering student, said the building represents the future for students who will discover their capabilities and go on to become innovators and scientists.
Gomez, who has worn a prosthetic left arm since she was 2 years old, designed her own prosthetic.
After transferring from Irvine Valley College, Gomez was selected for an eight-week research project at CSUF offered by Project RAISE, which stands for the Regional Alliance in STEM Application.
The innovation hub will provide the opportunity for Gomez and other students to assess and collaborate on STEM projects, she said.
“The Innovation Hub is more than just a new place on campus,” said Gomez, who was also selected for the Apple Next-Gen Innovators mentorship program. “It is a place where ideas will be tested, collaborations will spark and then next generation of innovators and scientists will discover what they are capable of.”