Michigan Technological University's alumni are famously supportive of the school, and the latest addition to the university is thanks to that quality.
A 10,000-square-foot computing research center is going to be the new occupant of the space formerly occupied by the Seaman Mineral Museum at Tech, which recently got some new, bigger, and quite impressive digs of its own.
It'll be named the Paul and Susan Williams Center for Computer Systems Research, since it was made possible by a gift from Paul Williams, a 1961 electrical engineering graduate. Williams, of Torrance, Calif., is a retired engineer who worked for Hughes Aircraft.
The center will focus on research on high-performance computing and information processing, and digital and computer systems, and will welcome faculty, graduate and undergraduate researchers, says Dan Fuhrmann, chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering.
"Our aim is to bring together people from all parts of campus with a common interest in computing systems research," says Fuhrmann. "We're excited about working with the department of computer science on this. We'll be looking at experimental architectures, new applications and new ways of doing computing."
Other alumni also are contributing donations to the center, toward the cost of remodeling the fifth floor of the Electrical Energy Resources Center, the center's new home. The James Fugere Foundation and the Dave House Family Foundation were among the other donors.
The center is planned to open in August, and will house 10 faculty offices, conference, seminar and meeting rooms, common areas, lab space and a view over the Portage Canal.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Dan Fuhrmann, Michigan Technological University
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