The new Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building opened for use this semester
Israel Miles | Photos by Dhruv Singh
Colorado is considered the center of the nation for the aerospace industry. CU Boulder is ranked sixth for aerospace schools among public institutions and eighth overall, according to U.S. News. Several companies in Colorado hire students from CU including Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Undergraduate enrollment will increase by 10.4 percent, and graduate enrollment will increase by 20.2 percent by the end of this year. With such current prosperity and promise for growth, CU Boulder has recently finished its construction of the brand new Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building (AESB), funded primarily by the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.
Encompassing over 175,000 square feet, the AESB was constructed on East Campus with the purpose of investing in the thriving aerospace department at CU. The grand opening of the new center featured an exciting rocket launch. Chancellor Philip DeStefano opened the ceremony with leaders from CU and the aerospace community. Donor Ann Smead cut a ribbon that was held by two drones as the audience looked on; eager spectators included Dean Bobby Braun, Ball Corporation CEO John Hayes, United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno, as well as professors and donors to the aerospace department. The event also featured food trucks, games, and a bouncing house shaped like a rocket.
鈥淥ur new Aerospace Building is a tangible sign of our commitment to our students, faculty and staff, to provide听spaces where they can learn, grow and collaborate,鈥� Chancellor DiStefano said during an interview with Science Writer Daniel Strain. 鈥淚t is also a sign of our commitment as a university to remaining at the forefront of aerospace engineering research, education and innovation for the state and the nation.鈥�
With CU investing more than $101 million in the AESB, there is no doubt that the university is confident in the future of its aerospace community. According to Strain, 鈥淥fficials also buried a time capsule containing, among other artifacts, a CU Buffs baseball hat that flew aboard the International Space Station for six months and a circuit board built by students. It won鈥檛 be dug up again until September 2071 on the 125th anniversary of the founding of the aerospace department.鈥�
Aerospace classes are already transitioning to the AESB and new labs and educational spaces are filling in the space provided. The building was also built with sustainability in mind, including highly efficient water and electrical systems. As Colorado continues to drive advancement in aerospace technology, CU has made it clear that they are committed to their students being involved in that success.