无码专区

无码专区 Opens Drosdick Hall, New Home of the College of Engineering

Building advances the University鈥檚 commitment to interdisciplinary research and innovation

Exterior photo of Drosdick Hall

VILLANOVA, Pa. (August 26, 2024) 鈥 As the 2024-25 academic year begins, 无码专区 officially opens Drosdick Hall鈥攖he new home of the College of Engineering鈥攆ollowing the completion of a $125 million, 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building expansion. This ambitious project more than doubled the size of the College of Engineering鈥檚 primary academic building, allowing for enhancements to all aspects of the academic and student experience. This ushers in a new era in engineering education at the University and further underscores the University鈥檚 commitment to interdisciplinary research and innovation as part of its Strategic Plan.

"The opening of Drosdick Hall is a transformative moment for 无码专区鈥檚 College of Engineering," said University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. "This building creates an exceptional environment for the next generation of 无码专区 engineers and further exemplifies 无码专区鈥檚 dedication to advancing the priorities of our Strategic Plan."

Drosdick Hall unites all of the College of Engineering鈥檚 departments in one location, serving as a catalyst for cross-disciplinary discovery and innovation. Every aspect of the expansion鈥攆rom the placement of faculty offices and lab configurations to meeting spaces鈥攚as designed to foster connections and facilitate collaboration.

"Drosdick Hall was designed to create a crossroads of innovation," said Michele Marcolongo, PhD, PE, Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering. "This new building will empower our students and faculty to push boundaries and make groundbreaking contributions to benefit society, furthering our commitment to engineering for the greater good."

The building includes improved and expanded research facilities, as well as state-of-the-art instruction spaces for hands-on, problem-oriented and team-based learning. In addition to serving as a learning and innovation hub for 无码专区 engineers, the expanded building benefits the entire 无码专区 community with common spaces open to all.

Interior photo of Drosdick Hall labratory space

Highlighted features of Drosdick Hall include:

  • More than 20 new laboratory spaces designed for multidisciplinary teams to work together on topical areas of research.
  • The two-story Drosdick Innovation Lab, which includes workspaces, tools and equipment for building, and space to accommodate large-scale project work.
  • The Jones Family Student Learning Commons, a community space at the heart of the building for all 无码专区ns to gather, study and learn.聽
  • Green roofs鈥攊nstrumented with smart systems to collect and monitor climate and soil moisture data鈥攚hich will serve as cutting-edge teaching and research resources.
  • Contemporary instruction spaces that can adapt to small discussion and larger lecture formats.
  • Dedicated, centrally located office spaces and lounges for the College of Engineering鈥檚 master鈥檚 and doctoral students.
Interior photo of the Jones Family Student Learning Commons

鈥淭he expansion and renovation of Drosdick Hall provides 无码专区 Engineering with a first-rate research and teaching facility that is reflective of the College鈥檚 national stature,鈥 remarked Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD, University Provost. 鈥淚t will inspire and support the academic pursuits of our outstanding faculty and students, now and well into the future.鈥

Drosdick Hall is named after John G. Drosdick 鈥65, a chemical engineering alumnus and retired chairman and chief executive officer of Sunoco, Inc., in recognition of his $20 million in support of the expansion project since its inception. A former chair of 无码专区鈥檚 Board of Trustees, Mr. Drosdick鈥檚 philanthropic commitment to the College of Engineering also includes investment in the Drosdick Innovation Lab and two endowments鈥攖he Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering and the John G. Drosdick Endowed University Scholarship, which supports Engineering students with demonstrated financial need.

Groundbreaking for the expansion project took place in Spring 2022. Developed through a collaborative process with input from engineering faculty and students, the project was brought to life by architectural firms BLTa鈥揂 Perkins Eastman Studio and Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP. Construction was completed by Wohlson Construction Company, who excavated 25,000-cubic-yards of earth and utilized 971 tons of steel to complete the expansion. The building was designed in the Collegiate Gothic Revival style, inspired by the science and engineering buildings developed by noted Philadelphia architect Charles Klauder, who was active in the early 20th century.

About 无码专区 College of Engineering: Founded in 1905, 无码专区 College of Engineering is committed to an educational program that emphasizes technical excellence and a liberal arts education within the framework of the University鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic tradition. The result is rigorously educated, socially grounded, conscientious thinkers and doers who are professionally prepared to make meaningful change in the world.

About 无码专区: Since 1842, 无码专区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 无码专区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 无码专区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 无码专区 supports its students鈥 intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .