The $28 million project is one of several new infrastructure projects made possible by one-time funding from the state’s historic $458 million investment in the University’s polytechnic transformation.
The ER+SC will provide students with immersive, practical learning experiences through state-of-the-art teaching labs, research spaces, and collaborative offices. Designed to bridge disciplines, the facility will connect the work of various departments and centers on campus, including the Schatz Energy Research Center and the Energy Systems Engineering program.
Equipped with specialized technology for students and faculty, the ER+SC will feature a full energy grid testing yard with utility-grade electrical service and distribution system components, including medium voltage infrastructure. It will also serve as a center for cutting-edge research on microgrid technology, encompassing solar and wind generation and battery storage.
The ER+SC will be home to sustainability-focused committees on campus and house the Office of Sustainability, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
“Sustainability is integrated in all corners of our campus. This facility will bring together students, faculty, and staff who are working together to make our world a more environmentally and socially just place,” says Acting Vice President for Administration & Finance Mike Fisher.
“This facility will immerse our students in research and real-world work experience, showcasing just a few of the areas where we lead in higher education, sustainability, and energy research,” Fisher adds.
The center is situated at the southeast corner of campus on the corner of 14th Street and B Street. The two-story building will be approximately 20,000 square feet in size.
The ER+SC, designed by Smith Group with Swinerton Builders leading construction, is designed to meet LEED Gold certification standards. Sustainable design elements include a mass timber construction and advanced heat pump-based climate control systems. It's all electric and built for high efficiency. The design also seamlessly connects the campus to the surrounding neighborhood, embracing a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere with vibrant street-level features.
Demolition began at the site, formerly the home to the University’s Childcare Center, in February. The building is scheduled for completion in early 2027.
For more information about the University’s capital projects, visit: humboldt.edu/facilities-management/capital-projects