A groundbreaking ceremony for the new academic building for engineering, innovation, and sciences was held on June 21.

WENTWORTH BROKE GROUND on a new academic building for engineering, innovation, and sciences on June 21. The four-story facility at the heart of campus will house the Institute’s new Biological Engineering program; its Biomedical, Civil Engineering, and experiential learning programs; science and engineering labs; and the innovation and entrepreneurship center, Accelerate.

It is the Institute’s first new academic building in 45 years.

Approximately 64 feet in height, the building will also include group-meeting spaces, offices, a first-floor maker space, and an exhibit space to showcase student work.

The building will be located at the eastern edge of the academic quad between Watson Hall and the Nelson Recreation Center, across Parker Street from the Annex complex.

“Wentworth’s curriculum is transitioning from a focus on engineering technology to engineering innovation in areas such as biological engineering,” said Vice President for Business David Wahlstrom.

“This transition requires new and different teaching and learning spaces with configurations that promote collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches to solving the technical challenges of our day.”

Expected to cost $55 million, the building is scheduled to open in Spring 2019.

Caleb Cochran