MSOE Holds Ceremonial Groundbreaking for New Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center on Saturday, July 12. With more than 100 MSOE alumni, Regents and dignitaries in attendance, the groundbreaking marked a significant milestone in the university’s “Next Bold Step” campaign to support the university’s goal of becoming the national leader in applied artificial intelligence education. The Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center will be complete ahead of the fall 2027 semester.

Joining MSOE President John Y. Walz, Ph.D. for the groundbreaking were Dr. Dwight Diercks, NVIDIA Senior VP of Software Engineering and MSOE Regent and alumnus; Dian Diercks, MSOE benefactor; Dr. James C. Rahn, Kern Family Foundation president and MSOE Board of Regents chair; Craig Jorgensen, President and CEO of VJS Construction; Ruth Dobberpuhl, MSOE mechanical engineering student; Nick Haemel, NVIDIA VP of Medical Imaging & System Software and MSOE Regent and alumnus; and Kendall Breunig, Principal, Sunset Investors and MSOE Regent and alumnus.

“MSOE engineering students need a space that encourages collaboration, supports hands-on learning, and reflects the innovation happening here every day,” said Ruth Dobberpuhl, MSOE mechanical engineering student. “We need study areas that are comfortable and functional, labs that are equipped for the challenges of tomorrow, and modern features that support the way we learn, build, and grow. The Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center turns these needs into reality. It will create an environment where students can connect, explore and solve problems together.”

The Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center will be located at the corners of Milwaukee and State Streets on MSOE’s campus in downtown Milwaukee. The new facility will be connected to the Allen-Bradley Hall of Science and the Fred Loock Engineering Center, bringing MSOE’s engineering disciplines together under one roof. The facility will promote innovative modes of education and support the growing needs of MSOE’s students.

“Students will be building, testing and solving real-world problems from the moment they walk in,” said Dr. John Y. Walz, MSOE president. “It’s not just about classrooms and laboratories – it’s about creating a space where ideas can flourish, and where students can develop the MSOE Mindset.”

One of the centerpieces of the $76.5 million, 4-story, 97,000-square-foot academic building will be the new Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence Education. This initiative will anchor MSOE’s efforts to infuse AI learning across every engineering discipline, attract top-tier faculty and foster partnerships with industry. The building will also have flexible labs, modern classrooms, workshops focused on robotics and AI, an outdoor sustainability lab and public spaces that support collaborative learning across all disciplines, with a focus on integrating AI and machine learning into all of MSOE’s engineering programs. It will serve as a dynamic home for students and faculty to rethink what’s possible in engineering.

“Bringing these disciplines together in one collaborative environment fosters innovation, interdisciplinary learning and real-world problem solving,” said Dr. James C. Rahn, Kern Family Foundation president and MSOE Board of Regents chair. “This facility will be a hub for the MSOE community to gather and explore endless possibilities together.”

Ramlow/Stein Architecture + Interiors is the project developer and VJS Construction is the construction manager.

Renderings

ABOUT MSOE: Milwaukee School of Engineering is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. The independent, non-profit university has about 2,900 students and was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business and nursing. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This approach to learning makes students ready now as well as prepared for the future. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors, and challenge them to go beyond what’s possible. MSOE graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners and value creators.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.