Purdue Polytechnic Anderson, Flagship Enterprise Center break ground
October 2, 2015
ANDERSON, Ind. - Purdue Polytechnic Anderson and the Flagship Enterprise Center celebrated the future of higher education in the region on Sept. 15 during a groundbreaking for Purdue Polytechnic Anderson’s headquarters.
The two entities will build a new campus and makerspace on the former GM Plant 3 property at 2900 W. Scatterfield Road in Anderson. The groundbreaking is the next step in a process that has taken more than a year of planning and development.
“We are extremely excited about what this new space means for our students. It will provide them with the labs needed for our engineering technology and computer technology degrees. We pride ourselves on learning by doing, and the new Plant 3 facility will allow us to fulfill our new Polytechnic mission,” said Corey Sharp, director of Purdue Polytechnic Anderson.
As part of the project, the city of Anderson approved the CReD and TIF bonds to finance the $15 million, high-tech facility, which includes 28,000 square feet of student innovation and learning space and 40,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing space for local manufacturers and startup companies.
"Anderson is continuing to make tremendous strides in innovation, education, entrepreneurism and workforce development,” said Kevin Smith, mayor of Anderson. "The Flagship and Purdue Polytechnic P3 Building and makerspace will move Anderson to the forefront of the national maker movement while providing a world-class educational and industrial facility that Anderson can be proud of. We are pleased to partner with Purdue Polytechnic and Flagship Enterprise Center to create such a dynamic environment where ideas lead to designs and designs become reality for our children, our citizens and our companies.”
The Flagship Enterprise Center will be the ultimate owner and building manager of the new facility.
“The Flagship/Purdue partnership will provide an all-encompassing educational experience, from academic and lab spaces, to beginning and advanced makerspaces, to hands-on interaction and engagement with high-tech Indiana companies all under one roof,” said Chuck Staley, CEO of Flagship Enterprise Center. “This partnership represents a major step forward in addressing a critical shortage in the engineering and technical disciplines in the region. We are greatly appreciative to the city of Anderson and the Anderson Innovation Center for their support and encouragement.”
The new building is scheduled to be complete in Fall 2016. It will support a growing program at Purdue Polytechnic Anderson, including new majors in supply chain management technology and computer and information technology. Purdue Polytechnic is also actively engaged in the Indiana return and complete initiative, providing another avenue for adults to finish a degree they may have started previously.
“The plans for this building and the partnerships that make it possible embody the Purdue Polytechnic learning environment: more learning by doing, an integration of industry projects, collaboration and exposure to entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Gary Bertoline, dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. “The facility is an incredible opportunity for our students in Anderson and for the business and industry in the region.”
Contact: Corey Sharp, 765-648-2920, sharp22@purdue.edu
