The 140,000 square foot, $42 Million Centennial Engineering Center will replace the existing facilities of the Civil Engineering department. The funding for this project was recently secured through a combination of revenue bonds and legislative appropriations. The design phase of the project is currently near completion. Construction will commence in Spring 2006 with completion scheduled for the Fall 2008 semester.

The Center will feature new classrooms with modern learning technology, state-of-the-art teaching labs, and new research facilities.  Designed by Van H. Gilbert, Architect PC, highlights of the building include:

• A space that integrates all engineering disciplines
• Designed to create a sense of community
• Improved space to house student programs
• State-of-the-art teaching and research labs
• Technology-enhanced classrooms
• Graduate student, faculty, and administrative offices
• Courtyards to facilitate interaction and education beyond the classroom

The building is essential to every engineering program at UNM by providing:

• New classrooms with modern learning technology to replace crowded, outmoded facilities
• State-of-the-art teaching labs for educating students in key areas of technology
• New research facilities for biomedical engineering and other areas for education and economic development
• New facilities to support increased diversity and to promote student success

UNM engineering programs provide a technical workforce for existing and future New Mexico companies in such areas as civil and construction engineering, information technology and digital media, nanotechnology and semiconductor manufacturing, and aviation and aerospace.  They facilitate collaboration on critical medial research with the UNM Health Sciences Center, enable new and stronger collaborations to support local companies, and allow more competitiveness in pursuing research grants to find solutions to key issues facing our state.