HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The new Arthur Weisberg Family Applied Engineering Complex at Marshall University includes laboratories aimed at serving the state, said the university’s interim president Gary White.
The $56-million complex, celebrated in a dedication ceremony Thursday, includes a materials stress lab for use by the state Division of Highways, along with three digital security labs that can benefit the banking industry.
“These particular laboratories are specifically designed not only to simulate those conditions, but also help the students work through solutions,” White said.
The building includes what White described as a “very elaborate rooftop garden system” that will channel water into several labs allowing for the study of water quality. The building has a wow factor proves what began as a concept can be put into action, White said.
“It’s truly remarkable what the architects, designers, the advisory committee, our faculty and staff….have done,” White said.
The building, located on Third Avenue in Huntington, fits Marshall’s tight campus footprint, White said.
“Our campus lends itself to a very personalized educational experience, and the way our campus is designed it can give our students and our parents a much closer feeling of family and security,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and 3rd District Congressman Evan Jenkins were among those on hand for the ceremony.