Construction briefly paused at Michigan State University’s future Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation on Friday, Sept. 11, as university leaders, donors and partners gathered to celebrate the people and partnerships bringing the new facility to life.

Against the backdrop of the active construction site, guests signed a ceremonial steel beam that will become part of the building. The milestone offered a glimpse of what the future center is designed to make possible: bringing students, faculty and researchers together across disciplines to create new opportunities for discovery, collaboration and innovation.

Rendering of the new Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation building. — Rendering of the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation. Rendering by TMP Architecture.

Expected to open in 2028, the Leinweber Center will include new laboratories, classrooms and collaborative spaces and bring together expertise across six MSU colleges. The center is designed to foster work at the intersections of fields including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and autonomous systems.

“This facility is an investment in the ideas, research and discoveries that we cannot yet predict, and in training the engineers and other skilled graduates who will strengthen Michigan’s economy, drive progress and shape a brighter future,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “This center is designed around a simple idea: Put extraordinary people together and see what becomes possible.”

The center was inspired by the largest facility gift in MSU history and reflects investment from the university, the state of Michigan and donors who have supported the vision for the project. During Friday’s celebration, university leaders recognized the faculty, researchers, staff, donors, state partners, architects, engineers and builders who have helped move the center from an idea to a structure now rising on campus.

A man giving a speech at a podium, — Larry Leinweber speaking at the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation Center celebration event on Sept. 11. Photo courtesy of Chase Stanton

Larry Leinweber, a 1964 MSU graduate and foundational donor to the project, reflected on both the long-term impact of the center and his own journey at Michigan State.

“We believe this investment in the building will be highly impactful not only for Michigan State but also for the entire state of Michigan,” Leinweber said. “We see this as an investment in Michigan, with ongoing benefits that will last decades.”

Leinweber arrived in East Lansing at age 21 after hitchhiking more than 2,500 miles from Seattle to enroll as a transfer student at MSU. He worked at the Kellogg Center while completing his degree and described Michigan State as a catalyst in his own journey.

Decades later, his family’s support is helping create opportunities for future generations of students and researchers. The Leinweber Foundation’s investments at MSU include scholarships supporting students in engineering and STEM fields as well as research initiatives.

The center itself is designed around the idea that some of the most consequential discoveries happen when disciplines intersect. Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Laura Lee McIntyre said the challenges researchers are tackling today, from artificial intelligence and quantum technology to advanced manufacturing and autonomous systems, do not fit neatly within individual academic departments.

“Discovery and innovation happen at the intersections of disciplines, and this center was intentionally designed to foster those intersections,” McIntyre said. “For unexpected conversations, for productive collisions, for students and faculty who arrive with one question and leave with three more questions.”

That interdisciplinary approach will bring together six colleges and create opportunities for students, faculty, researchers and industry partners to work alongside people who may approach the same challenge from entirely different perspectives.

The celebration also highlighted what that work could mean beyond campus. By preparing students for rapidly evolving fields and creating new opportunities for research and industry collaboration, the center is expected to help develop talent, advance discoveries and strengthen Michigan’s economy.

“Our responsibility is to create the conditions where curious people can ask extraordinary questions,” said Kim Tobin, vice president for University Advancement. “We don’t know exactly what will be discovered or whose spark will be ignited here in the center. But I think that’s our point.”

Friday’s program included remarks from university leaders, students and project supporters before guests gathered around the ceremonial beam for signatures and photos. Once installed as part of the building, the signed beam will become a lasting piece of a center built to serve generations of future Spartans.

About the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation

The Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation is a new interdisciplinary facility at Michigan State University designed to bring together students, researchers and faculty from across six colleges. Through collaborative learning environments, research laboratories and shared spaces, the center will support emerging areas of discovery and help prepare students to lead in rapidly evolving industries.

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