Wichita, Kansas – Wichita State University (WSU), through its Wichita State Innovation Alliance Inc., has an agreement with Airbus Americas to locate the aerospace company's Wichita engineering center in a new building on the university's Innovation Campus.
"This commitment by Airbus, one of the world's leading design and manufacturing companies, represents a major step forward for our students and state," said WSU President John Bardo. "This secures WSU's future as a global center of engineering and will encourage other world-class firms to locate on our campus."
Airbus will move from its current location in downtown Wichita, bringing around 400 employees to campus and many opportunities for applied learning in aerospace engineering.
"We intend to take full advantage of WSU's applied learning strategy," said John O'Leary, vice president of Airbus Americas Engineering. "Our intent is to partner with WSU to develop the strategy to the point that it is recognized as the benchmark program in the country."
"Airbus' presence on campus will allow them quick and easy access to our research and testing labs, faculty expertise, and student employees," said John Tomblin, vice president for research and technology transfer.
In recent years, Airbus has strengthened its relationship with the university, especially the National Institute for Aviation Research. In addition to contracting recurring composites and manufacturing training for its employees, Airbus recently performed full-scale structural testing of an A350 XWB pylon structure in NIAR's Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center. The pylon was designed by Airbus' Wichita engineering office, and the test was the first of its kind to be conducted outside of the company's European facilities.
Airbus' commitment to the Innovation Campus is the largest so far. The project will include a 2-story, 90,000ft2 building and adjacent parking.
The building, which Airbus expects to occupy in January 2017, is located close to NIAR and WSU's new Experiential Engineering Building and Community Maker Space.
Wichita State's Innovation Campus concept was introduced in January 2014, when the university formed the Wichita State Innovation Alliance Inc. to work with companies, investors, and governments to develop the new 120-acre portion of campus that was previously home to Braeburn Golf Course.
Source: NIAR
Latest from Aerospace Manufacturing and Design
- Our first webinar of 2025 highlights additive manufacturing
- Pegasus Airlines orders up to 200 Boeing 737-10 airplanes
- ModuleWorks' 2024.12 software components
- Archer completes construction of high-volume manufacturing facility
- Curtiss-Wright’s NXP 16-Core Arm-based VPX single board computer
- Happy New Year
- 2024 Favorites: #1 Article –2024 Forecast
- 2024 Favorites: #1 News – Honeywell to expand Kansas aerospace manufacturing facility