Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen and Gov. Kim Reynolds were among those on hand last week to celebrate the opening of ISU’s new Student Innovation Center. Photo provided by ISU

Iowa State University celebrated the opening of its new Student Innovation Center last week with a dedication ceremony for the facility that is being touted as a hub for project-based learning, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

“Here, students, faculty and staff can create innovative products and collaborate with others to bring new ideas to the marketplace,” ISU President Wendy Wintersteen said during Thursday’s ceremony. “I see the Student Innovation Center as a bright beacon for all of those innovators and entrepreneurs captivated by creativity, and yearning to bring their new ideas to life.”

Located on Central Campus, the $84 million facility offers four floors and a lower level to provide diverse spaces for collaborative learning and creating, university officials said.

Students will be able to work on projects from start to finish, from planning and design to marketing and distribution. All six of the university’s undergraduate colleges have designated space in the center.

The center was funded by a $30 million lead gift that was the catalyst for the project, with $15 million in gifts from corporations, alumni and friends of the university, along with $40 million from the state.

The Student Innovation Center features a digital modeling and visualization lab, an industrial design lab, electronics, textiles and 3D printing shop, a media production suite, auditorium and exhibit spaces, outdoor areas, and classrooms. It also has spaces for Team PrISUm solar car, the Gaffer’s Guild glassblowers and the STEM Scholars diversity enrichment program.

Other features include a student-run cafe, a student-run retail outlet featuring products created by students, an architectural robotics lab, and a Culinary Creation Lab.

“The Student Innovation Center is driven by our students’ dreams. It will provide them the space, tools and inspiration to pursue new ideas that could change the world,” said Jim Oliver, the center’s director and Pithan Director of Innovation. “The impact on teaching, research, economic development and community outreach will be amazing. Most importantly, it will give our students a competitive edge as they enter the workforce.”