Cal State Fullerton leaders took the next step to build the new ECS Innovation Hub that will shape the future of engineering and computer science in Southern California, serving as a catalyst for discovery and industry innovation.
At a June 4 ceremonial event attended by students, faculty, alumni, donors, elected officials and industry and community partners, university leaders broke ground on the 42,000-square-foot College of Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub. Construction began this week.
The engineering and computer science school’s enrollment has increased by 30% and the number of degrees conferred upon students has jumped to nearly 250% over the last decade.
The collaborative workspace aims to empower tomorrow’s engineers and computer scientists to solve real-world challenges, fuel economic growth and elevate Orange County as a global technology leader.
“The ECS Innovation Hub is a bold promise to our entire university and across all majors,” said CSUF President Ronald Rochon. “It is a promise that we will equip our students with not only the technical skills, but also the collaborative spaces, real-world experiences and the mentorship needed to thrive in today’s world and lead in tomorrow’s world.”
The ECS Innovation Hub will be built next to the college’s Engineering Building and features state-of-the-art labs, immersive learning spaces and real-world, project-based experiences. The addition to the college complex is expected to open by fall 2027.
“This will be a place where students will turn ideas into action, where theory meets application and where innovation is no longer reserved for the few but accessible to many,” said Susan Barua, former college dean. “The Innovation Hub will prepare our students not just to participate in the workforce, but to shape it.”
Barua, who recently retired after a 37-year career at the university, is the strategic adviser for the $85 million project, supported by state, campus and philanthropic funds. The university received a $67.5 million investment from the state for the project’s first phase, and philanthropic efforts are underway to expand, enhance and support programming.
Alum Darren Jones, ’91 (B.A. business administration), executive director of technology segment integration at The Walt Disney Co. and ECS Hub Campaign Cabinet member, said the new hub is needed to keep pace with today’s engineering and technological advances.
“Engineering and computer science sit at the very edge of transforming our lives; the world moves forward through these kinds of buildings and students,” said Jones, who serves on Cal State Fullerton’s Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors.
Lupita Jimenez, a computer science major, shared her enthusiasm for the new modern environment.
“The hub represents a space where students will grow, build community and unlock their potential,” said Jimenez, president of the Association for Computing Machinery–Women in Computing student chapter and a leader in the Women in Computer Science and Engineering program.
“I’m excited for future students to take full advantage of the opportunities this hub will offer.”