Today is an exciting day for aerospace and for all of CU Boulder. The University of Colorado’s Board of Regents just approved construction of a dedicated building for the College of Engineering’s Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences! The state-of-the-art innovation facility comes at a critical juncture for this nationally-recognized aerospace research hub.
CU aerospace is a globally recognized program. US industry leaders understand the importance of this new facility as a pipeline for talent, research, and education.
Over the years, as the aerospace industry has changed and evolved, so too has the department, facing new challenges while at the same time transforming aerospace education. The current Engineering Center has served as a center of gravity for aerospace research since 1966. In that time the department has grown significantly, reaching a point where it is no longer possible for the center to meet the needs of today. A new building will help recruit top students and faculty, providing them with the tools needed for the groundbreaking research that will power the Colorado economy forward.
I’ve personally seen the commitment of the CU aerospace team to excellence and quality of research, which is why so many of the brightest minds flock here to study for the unique hands-on curriculum. A dedicated place for aerospace, and its presence on CU Boulder’s East Campus, will provide new opportunities for research and to work across disciplines with our other world-class research centers. Breaking down disciplinary barriers is how the next great series of aerospace innovations will be discovered, further propelling the department as a world leader.
This new facility will serve as a symbol of, and home for, the State of Colorado’s commitment to aerospace when it is completed in 2019. It will help CU Engineering push the boundaries of science and technology, ensuring Colorado is on the leading edge of aeronautics and aerospace in America and the world for decades to come.
Learn more about the building itself and sign up for updates on its development here.
Ann Smead is a longtime supporter of CU Boulder’s Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences and a member of the Engineering Advisory Council. In January, CU named the department in honor of Ann and her late husband, H.J. Smead.