{"id":332364,"date":"2025-10-25T21:17:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T21:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/332364\/"},"modified":"2025-10-25T21:17:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T21:17:13","slug":"interdisciplinary-science-and-technology-building-12-opens-on-polytechnic-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/332364\/","title":{"rendered":"Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12 opens on Polytechnic campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

After two years and a quarter billion dollars, the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12<\/a> had its grand opening Friday morning with appearances from Gov. Katie Hobbs and ASU President Michael \u00a0Crow.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The launch of the ISTB 12 exemplified a large step for the University and the future of manufacturing across Arizona, which was recognized by Hobbs for its significance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Today marks more than the opening of a building,” Hobbs said. “It is a milestone in our leadership as a hub of advanced manufacturing, technology and innovation.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

The newly constructed building joins other Interdisciplinary Science and Technology <\/strong>buildings throughout the Tempe and Polytechnic campuses. According to Morgan Olsen, the executive vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer of the University, ISTB 12 will be the “gateway” between the Polytechnic campus and Polytechnic Innovation Zone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The Innovation Zone that we’re going to create immediately south of here, about 330 acres of land there, that is going to foster industry collaboration, translational research and economic development,” Olsen said. “(It is a) huge opportunity for all of us here in the state of Arizona.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

These Innovation Zones<\/a> allow for partnerships between the University and private entities through collaboration around student and faculty knowledge. The Innovation Zone at the Polytechnic campus includes a collection of workspaces for aviation, human-centered technology, commercial printing services, health-related technology and now ISTB 12.<\/p>\n

According to Olsen, the ISTB 12 building will open up the opportunity to work with the city of Mesa to foster innovation with existing organizations like the Mesa Gateway Airport and SkyBridge Arizona.<\/p>\n

“We’re going to work with the city of Mesa, 500,000 plus people, we’re going to work with the leadership of the state of Arizona, we’re going to work with Honeywell (and) other companies,” Crow said. “We’re going to build this thing. We’re going to attract talent from all over the world and we’re going to bring it together.”<\/p>\n

ISTB 12 houses the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks<\/a>, with labs that specialize in topics like robotics, semiconductors and various types of manufacturing.\u00a0Though the building will be utilized for academic research purposes, the spaces were designed to promote partnership with potential collaborators.<\/p>\n

“This building was intentionally designed to promote partnerships that advance our programs that are shaped by that close collaboration with industry,” Kyle Squires, dean of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering<\/a>, said.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0The new design of the ISTB 12 will include technology such as AI-powered robots, digital twins and various uses of sensors. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Differing labs within the building focus on robotics and automation. The first floor of ISTB 12 is dedicated entirely to these labs and the research done in them, and the second floor contains lab spaces for students to learn and experiment with cutting-edge technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to Olsen, the intention of the building was to foster symbiotic relationships between the companies and the research labs at ISTB 12. So, as companies give resources and opportunities to ASU, these companies will then be provided with the services to help them with work.<\/p>\n

“(We’re) trying to find out new ways to manufacture systems that have been never built before at scales that aren’t even visible to the human eye,” Crow said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Edited by Kate Gore, Senna James and Pippa Fung.<\/p>\n

Reach the reporter at myerrag1@asu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Like The State Press<\/a> on Facebook and follow @statepress <\/a>on X.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meghana Yerragovula is a reporter for the state press. She is on her second semester writing as a reporter.<\/p>\n

Continue supporting student journalism and donate<\/a> to The State Press today.<\/p>\n