The design studio is designed for rapid prototyping of designs. It includes a computer lab, innovation lounge, shops, materials storage, project storage, and teaming stations.

This space is for design groups to use to conceptualize designs, assemble prototypes, and test prototypes. The first part of the Innovation Center is the lecture area, with two large presentation stations. Each presentation station has a Sony Bravia 65-inch 4K LED display and white boards that can be raised and lowered. Once the lecture or presentation is complete, students move from the lecture area to one of ten group stations. Students can connect their laptops to the monitors to discuss and work on their projects. CSI 280 (Flex Corridor) provides construction spill-over space and CSI 283 (Studio Storage) provide adequate space for groups to store projects.

The Innovation Lounge, CSI-256, features soft-seating and whiteboards galore. It is used for team meetings, brainstorming, and study sessions. The furniture is designed to be modular and flexible. This space is available for all students, and can be reserved by organized student groups.

This room, CSI-258, contains 42 PC workstations, grouped into seven “pods” (6 PCs plus a flat screen) designed to promote student collaboration. One additional instructor workstation allows software demonstrations to be routed to the large flatscreens installed at each pod. In the fall, this room is primarily used to support Design I (ENGR 1381), which focuses on Computer Aided Design, and Design V (ENGR 3181), which focuses on Digital Logic Design. In the spring, CSI 258 houses Design II (ENGR 1382), which includes instruction in Microsoft Excel and MATLab. The room is considered to be an integral part of our design suite (consisting of CSI 282 -- The Cube, CSI 258, and the other associated storage rooms and shops housed around the perimeter of the Cube). As such, it is reserved for engineering students any time a design class is scheduled. During non-class times, the room is used as a general engineering computer room. CSI 258 also houses a Stratasys Fortus 250 3D printer that is used to support student design projects on an on-demand basis.

The Electronics Shop (CSI 289) houses our Electronics Technicians. There are racks to drop off or pick up components or equipment in the alcove just outside the shop. Inside the shop are many electrical and electronic components for your use in design projects (motors, sensors, wires, computers, etc.), as well as electrical tools (soldering irons, meters, heat-shrink tubing, power supplies, etc.). We have a T|Tech QuickCiruit QCJ5 circuit board router for rapid prototyping of circuit designs available. You can to check out anything electronic that you need, and the techs will train you on any tools you don't know how to use.

The machine shop contains an enclosed wood shop section, which contains a table saw, router/router table, miter saws, vertical metal cutting band, band saw, wood sander, drill press, and belt/disc sander. The wood shop also has a vacuum and sawdust collector.

The remainder of the machine shop has ample space for a work table, tool storage, and standard machine tools: metal cutting lathe, arc welder, electric welder, metal benders, metal shear cutter, bench grinder, and drillpress. In both the machine shop’s open area and wood shop, a suspended track busway provides electrical power for a wide range of equipment. A full-time mechanical technician supervises the shop, gives safety training to students as required, and helps in manufacturing process. The machine shop also as an enclosed test cell, which contains a diesel/biodiesel compatible engine test rig.

The Material Storage Room (CSI-281) is where plywood sheets, rod and round stock metal, and various other raw material are stored. See any tech for access.

The Project Storage Room (CSI 283) is where your design projects are stored when you aren't working on them. There are well-marked areas for each design class, please keep your projects in your designated areas. There is also a spray-painting booth in there, please see the mechanical technician if you wish to paint. There are a selection of tools available in this room for engineering design student use only. Please return them to their places after use.

There are public use lockers in the hallway as you enter. They are coin-operated, at 25c per use. You may keep your backpacks, laptops, etc. here as you wish. You may also secure tools and other material that you have checked out in these lockers.