(from l to r): Ryan Beasley, Purdue ECE Director of Instructional Laboratories, Douglas Baney, Keysight Corporate Director of Education, Arvind Raman, John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, and Milind Kulkarni, Michael and Katherine Birck Head and Professor of ECE

The Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering today (10/10) celebrated the grand reopening of the 1^st floor of the Max W & Maileen Brown Family Hall. In December of 2021, the former Electrical Engineering (EE) building on the Purdue University campus was renamed the Max W & Maileen Brown Family Hall (BHEE), in recognition of a gift made by Mr. Brown, an alumnus of Purdue ECE, and his wife. In April 2023, the School launched a fundraising campaign to renovate the building. The renovations wrapped up in May 2024, with the new space opening to students for the Fall 2024 semester.

Milind Kulkarni, Michael and Katherine Birck Head and Professor of ECE said the project transformed BHEE into a modern and world-class ECE facility, equipped with the latest technology and resources to enhance teaching, learning, and research, and accommodate and support Purdue ECE’s ever-increasing student enrollment and research needs.

“This renovation project is not just about updating a building; it’s about creating a world-class ECE facility that will serve as a hub of innovation, collaboration, and discovery for years to come,” said Kulkarni. “We are thrilled to see this vision come to life—a vision where students and faculty are empowered with the latest technology and resources, and where our proud history meets the future of engineering education.”

Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, said the ribbon cutting is another exciting event taking place as Purdue celebrates 150 years of Purdue Engineering.

“This renovation is more than just bricks and mortar; it is the embodiment of our vision to become the most consequential college of engineering in the nation,” said Raman. “The new spaces we are unveiling today represent our dedication to creating environments where students and faculty can push boundaries, break new ground, and inspire the next generation of engineers.”

The renovated space in BHEE includes cutting-edge undergraduate instructional labs, collaborative graduate research spaces, inviting student lounge, TA and student collaboration space, renovated restrooms, as well as improved accessibility and energy efficiency.

Raman pointed to the Keysight Electronics Lab as one of the highlights of the renovation. He says Keysight Electronics has been a steadfast partner of ECE for more than four decades, and their support in naming this lab underscores their commitment to advancing the field of electrical and computer engineering.

 Douglas Baney, Keysight Corporate Director of Education, said the company is proud to be contributing to the improved facilities and education here at Purdue University. He said for Purdue, these labs are a great asset that shows the university’s commitment to experiential learning.

“It provides students with hands-on training with the industrial-grade equipment, so they’ll have confidence when the enter workforce,” said Baney. “For industry in global competition, having a highly skilled workforce is critical and these modern labs are essential for training the next generation of engineers.”

In addition to the Keysight Electronics Lab, the renovated space in BHEE includes cutting-edge undergraduate instructional labs, collaborative graduate research spaces, inviting student lounge, TA and student collaboration space, renovated restrooms, as well as improved accessibility and energy efficiency.

Photos of the event can be found here.