Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence
Excellence Rising
On October 5, 2016 we celebrated the groundbreaking for our newest facility – our flagship building and future home of the New Engineer.
“The only better day than today will be the day we open the doors and begin research and education in this building.”
– Cammy Abernathy
“This building wouldn’t be here, that shovel wouldn’t be here, our airplanes, our cell phones wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t be in the good health we are today, without engineering. We are the key to society improving. Without engineering, nothing happens.”
– Dr. Herbert Wertheim
With the help of a $300 million public-private partnership, UF is transforming the heart of campus into a home and headquarters for the New Engineer. This will be our flagship building: an 84,000 square foot state-of-the-art research and educational environment.
Welcome to the Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence!
Investing in People, Places and Programs
Key Building Features:
CLASSROOMS AND TOOLS to facilitate team-based learning, including freshman design labs
Faculty and student COLLISION SPACES to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration
State of the art BIOTECH LAB to engineer solutions to overcome cancer, cardiovascular and muscular system disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases
PROTOTYPING LABS to enhance hands-on learning and help develop big ideas
TELEPRESENCE LAB to build 21st century communication and networking skills
ROI: Within 5 Years
$4 million additional industry funding for research
$10 million in additional multidisciplinary research funding
Increased number of startups
300 more engineering degrees annually through retention and recruiting
Future home of:
- Computer Engineering
- Florida Engineering Experiment Station (FLEX)
- Engineering Innovation Institute (EII)
- Engineering Leadership Institute (ELI)
- Freshman design labs and senior capstone design courses for all departments
- Faculty and student collaboratory spaces
Partners
The Wertheim gift catalyzed a powerful public and private fundraising initiative. The college is tremendously grateful to the Florida legislature for investing in engineering education and research, as well as the following private donors:
- Subroto and Susmita Bagchi
- Bud and Kim Deffebach
- Carlos and Olga del Sol
- Rhonda Holt
- Gary and Suzy Miller
- Doug and Jane Miller
- Dr. Sachio Semmoto
- W. Kelly Smith
- David M. Thomas
- Bill and Lisa Troner