The We Energies STEM Center at the Milwaukee School of Engineering celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 22, one year after the nearly $1 million facility opened in September 2020.
Located at 1444 N. Water St., the 10,000-square-foot center hosts MSOE's STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) outreach efforts for K-12 students, which are designed to encourage kids' interest in STEM fields, and to build a talent pipeline for MSOE and local employers.
The space features a technology studio, design and development lab, machine tooling area and a regulation FIRST Robotics playing field.
In its first year, more than 2,000 K-12 students received STEM programming because of the facility, MSOE director of STEM Elizabeth Taylor said. It provided a space for student FIRST Robotics teams to meet, engaged more than 100 students in remote and in-person coding clubs, and hosted hybrid STEM programming for partners including the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts organizations.
Click through the slideshow to see inside the space.