As part of a multi-billion-dollar federal spending package, U.S. Congress approved $963,000 for Case Western Reserve University to acquire critical research equipment for the new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB), a nearly 200,000-square-foot research facility.
With an estimated $300 million price tag, the ISEB represents the university’s largest-ever Case Quad project.
The equipment purchased with the federal funds will support researchers in their efforts to develop state-of-the-art materials and semiconductor technology. This important work will help advance and revitalize U.S. leadership in two critical manufacturing areas: metals production and semiconductors. University leaders and members of Congress agreed that the project required specialized research equipment and materials.
“We are grateful to Representative Shontel Brown and Senator Sherrod Brown for their advocacy on behalf of the university in securing this important funding for the ISEB,” said Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler. “Their support enables us to further leverage our strengths in advanced materials and chemical engineering in ways that align with the country’s manufacturing priorities.”
The research collaborations in the ISEB will address some of the globe’s most urgent concerns, including climate change, applications of artificial intelligence and multiple aspects of improving health outcomes.
“Case Western Reserve University is a national leader in research and technology and a key asset of Northeast Ohio,” said U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio). “I was proud to secure federal funding to support CWRU’s research in metals and semiconductors production, which are vitally important to our nation’s future. The competition for federal funds is fierce, and this funding is a testament to the quality of CWRU’s work.”
“Case Western Reserve University is one of Ohio’s great institutions and their research is critical to positioning Ohio to lead the industries of the future like metals production and semiconductors,” said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). “That’s why we worked to secure these investments, to ensure that students and researchers have the tools they need as they advance Ohio’s leadership in manufacturing innovation.”
Importantly, the ISEB will feature a welcoming, park-like entrance area at its Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive location that will provide respite for CWRU and community members and better interconnect the campus and the community. In addition, the lead architect on the ISEB was a member of the design team for the Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
“We look forward to enhancing our expertise in sustainable manufacturing, electrochemistry and microelectronics—among other disciplines—at the ISEB,” said Kaler. “With this Congressional support, we will continue to drive innovation, foster workforce development, and train the next generation of scientists and engineers who will enhance processes, improve lives, and, we hope, change the world.”
For more information, contact Colin McEwen at colin.mcewen@case.edu.