‘This is how we want the world to see us’

EXP building rendering

State-of-the-art labs. Dedicated space to support Northeastern’s innovative work in autonomous vehicles, drones, and humanoid robots. A makerspace to promote collaboration between students across disciplines.

It’s all part of the university’s plan to construct an eight-story, 350,000-square-foot research center on Columbus Avenue. The building, to be named EXP, will include teaching and research labs, a cafe, a faculty club, and landscaped green space sandwiched in between the Ruggles Station and the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, which was opened in 2017 to national acclaim.

The two new buildings will complement each other as embodiments of the university’s academic plan, Northeastern 2025, which creates a globally networked ecosystem for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. EXP’s design enables a diverse network of innovators to connect and collaborate, bringing a range of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to the discovery process.

The building, to be named EXP, will include teaching and research labs, a cafe, a faculty club, and landscaped green space sandwiched in between the Ruggles Station and the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex.

“It’s very exciting, and it’s going to help us attract more top faculty and more top students because those great facilities will make it easier for them to do world-class work,” said James C. Bean, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern. “It will enhance interdisciplinarity and expand our capacity so we can continue to grow.”

This story originally appeared on Northeastern News