HOUGHTON — At its regular meeting on Friday, October 14, 2016, Michigan Technological University’s Board of Trustees approved a five-year state capital outlay plan including three projects: phase one of a H-STEM engineering and health technologies complex; integrated student maker spaces; and phase two of the H-STEM engineering and health technologies complex.

The plan and project request will be submitted to the State of Michigan, as required by law. This is the first step the University must take in order to request funding for construction and renovations.

Phase one of the H-STEM engineering and health technologies complex is estimated to cost $39.6 million, of which Michigan Tech is requesting the state pay $29.9 million or 75 percent. The other 25 percent is the University’s responsibility. If approved, phase one—which would include drafting of blue prints and leveraging state funds for additional funding gifts for naming opportunities would start in 2018.

The complex will support Michigan Tech’s integrated educational programs that apply engineering and science to problems related to the human condition. The University’s unique technological niche places Tech in an ideal position to contribute to human-centered research, development and education for its students by developing therapeutic devices, sensors, instruments, preventive strategies and a health technologies-related workforce.

The complex will permit teams of researchers and students from Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Computer Science, and Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology to work together in flexible lab spaces with shared equipment.

(Information Courtesy of Michigan Tech University)