Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center
In 2025, MSOE announced Next Bold Step: The Campaign to Accelerate Innovation. At the heart of the Next Bold Step campaign are philanthropic efforts to support MSOE’s new Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center, which will promote innovative modes of education and support the growing needs of MSOE’s students. The $76.5 million, 4-story, 97,000-square-foot academic building will have flexible labs, modern classrooms, workshops focused on robotics and AI, an outdoor sustainability lab, and public spaces that support collaborative learning across all disciplines, with a focus on integrating AI and Machine Learning into all of MSOE’s engineering programs. This project is funded entirely through philanthropy.
Construction Updates
Oct. 13, 2025 - Pedestrian Routes to Change
To ensure safety around the EIC construction site, the Fred F. Loock Engineering Center and the Allen-Bradley Hall of Science, pedestrian traffic routes are changing. Please use designated walkways, comply with posted detours and traffic signals, remain attentive to your surroundings, and maintain a safe distance from construction equipment and barriers.
- Oct. 13, 2025 - Pedestrian traffic proceeding southbound on the east side of North Milwaukee Street, from the intersection of North Milwaukee Street and East State Street, will have a covered walkway provided to ensure pedestrian safety while maintaining vehicle traffic flow.
- Within the next one to two weeks, at the intersection of North Milwaukee Street and East State Street, pedestrian traffic will be redirected to the north side of East State Street, guiding pedestrians to use the mid-block crosswalk leading onto Werwath Mall.
Sept. 16, 2025 - Demolition Update
Beginning Sept. 18, 2025, demolition activities will begin on the north sides of the existing Fred F. Loock Engineering Center and Allen-Bradley Hall of Science in preparation for construction of the Robert D. Kern Engineering Center. Here are the areas of these buildings that will be most significantly impacted.
| Significantly Impacted Rooms | |
|---|---|
| Floor 1 | Fluid Power Institute Suite (Rooms S-139, S-139A, S-139B, S-141, S-142, S-144, S-146) |
| Floor 2 | Physics Suite (Rooms S-232, S-233, S-234, S-235, S-236, S-237), Rooms S-243, S-244, S-245, S-246, S-247 |
| Anticipated Durations | |
|---|---|
| Interior Wall Demolition (Floors G, 1 and 2) | 21 Days (3 Weeks) |
| Mass Demolition of North Side of Buildings | 30 Days (4 Weeks) |
| Exterior Demolition of Patio | 21 Days (3 Weeks) |
July 12, 2025 - Groundbreaking Ceremony
MSOE hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center on Saturday, July 12, 2025. With more than 100 MSOE alumni, Regents and dignitaries in attendance, the groundbreaking marked a significant milestone in the university’s “Next Bold Step” campaign to support the university’s goal of becoming the national leader in applied artificial intelligence education. The Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center will be complete ahead of the fall 2027 semester.
March 3, 2025 - MSOE announces Next Bold Step
MSOE announced Next Bold Step: The Campaign to Accelerate Innovation. At the heart of the Next Bold Step campaign are philanthropic efforts to support MSOE’s new Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center, which will promote innovative modes of education and support the growing needs of MSOE’s students. The $76.5 million, 4-story, 97,000-square-foot academic building will have flexible labs, modern classrooms, workshops focused on robotics and AI, an outdoor sustainability lab, and public spaces that support collaborative learning across all disciplines, with a focus on integrating AI and Machine Learning into all of MSOE’s engineering programs.
