With the steel beams of the new Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub towering behind her, student Haley Barrios Gomez called the three-story structure under construction more than just a new building at Cal State Fullerton.
“It represents the future we’re building for the students who will come after us,” said Barrios Gomez, a mechanical engineering student selected for the Apple Next-Gen Innovators mentorship program.
“It’s a place where ideas will be tested, collaborations will spark, and the next generation of engineers and scientists will discover what they’re capable of. It will open doors for future Titans to lead.”
Students, faculty, campus leaders, industry partners and donors gathered Feb. 9 at the construction site of the ECS Innovation Hub for the “Construction Milestone Celebration.” To immortalize construction and campaign milestones, attendees wrote inspirational messages on a steel column on the new building.
Together, they marked the transition from the structural framing of the 42,000-square-foot building, situated next to the engineering and computer science complex, to the next phase of detailed construction. The building is expected to be completed by fall 2027.
At the event, university leadership acknowledged the critical role that alumni, donors, community partners, and industry have played in making the $85-million project possible, including $67.5 million from the state to construct the building.
Campus and philanthropic investments are also supporting capital enhancements and cutting-edge programs that will transform students’ hands-on learning experiences and prepare them for the workforce.
Sang June Oh, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, shared that the hub is a learning space where students will be challenged as they discover their potential.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we’re not just marking how high this building has risen,” Oh said. “We’re lifting our aspirations for what will happen inside. It will be a place where ideas take shape, and the future is built one student, one project and one breakthrough at a time.”
CSUF President Ronald Rochon said the state-of-the-art facility will enhance students’ learning in emerging technological fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing.
“This is where our students will design the future for Orange County and beyond,” Rochon said.
“The ECS Innovation Hub will strengthen pathways for current and transfer students in the STEM fields, expand mentorship opportunities, and provide career readiness and skills training.”
Alumnus Bill Ruh ’83, ’84 (B.S., M.S. computer science), former chief executive officer of GE Digital and a recipient of CSUF’s 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award, is among the project’s supporters.
When he learned about the ECS Innovation Hub’s scope and vision, Ruh and his wife, Karen, wanted to help make it happen.
“We felt we had to do whatever it took to help achieve this dream, and today that dream is becoming a reality,” said Ruh, co-chair of the ECS Innovation Hub Campaign Cabinet and an investor and adviser to business startups.
“This project is a game changer. It’s about enabling students and faculty to envision the future, and to allow them to create, explore and lead in innovation.”