Three different engineering buildings at one university can be a bit confusing, yet each one serves a different purpose at Oakland and allows students to thrive in their chosen field.

“Between lectures and labs we need all the space possible,” freshman Kelly Whalen said. “Engineering is said to be the fastest-growing major, so we all need a lot of space to work in.”

Between Dodge Hall, The Science and Engineering building and the new Engineering Center on campus, there are many differences between the three that a lot of people on campus are unaware of.

“I, myself, have wondered what would be done about the confusion with having three buildings with ‘engineering’ in the title, and how the university would be addressing it,” said Jane Dietrich, Executive Secretary of the School of Engineering and Computer Science. “We had many lost students the first few weeks of classes who arrived in the Engineering Center only to find out their classes were in SEB.”

Dodge Hall was the first engineering building constructed, the Science and Engineering Building was second, followed by the Engineering Center most recently. Dodge Hall is still able to function for students, graduate research and other things.

The Science & Engineering building has a cross-section of degrees through various academic units on campus while the Engineering Center is dedicated to the ultimate undergraduate experience.

“Most of my lectures took place in SEB and my labs were mainly in Dodge Hall,” said Ryan Adams, an engineering graduate from Oakland. “When I first looked around the new engineering building I was very impressed.

“I think current students will be inspired by the beautiful industrial design of the building and the amenities inside will allow them to thrive.”

While they all have necessary technology and learning space, the newest building provides the most modern technology and atmosphere.

The new Engineering Center is 127,000 square feet, state of the art facility located next to Dodge Hall and the Kresge Library. 

“The new Engineering Center allows the School of Engineering and Computer Science the ability to showcase our capabilities,” said Richard Rachner, Development Officer of the School of Engineering and Computer Science. “In addition, it’s a great venue to showcase the value proposition for our students.”

The building also showcases OU’s capabilities in industry partnerships and was constructed with the students in mind.

“Dean Chamra wanted the new Engineering Center to be more than just a building students take classes in, but a spot for students to spend the day, take a class, work in a lab, study and eat lunch and dinner in,” Rachner said. “From our first month of operation, I would say that goal has been achieved.”

As of now, there are no specific plans to further expand the engineering department. However, the school is always looking to keep up with new technologies and provide sufficient space so students are prepared to enter the workforce.