Similar research facilities are common at car companies, but only a handful exist in a university setting, said Eann Patterson, mechanical engineering chairman and professor.

“It’s the role of universities to be doing breakthrough research,” Patterson said. “We built this facility to accomplish this.”

The new facility more than triples the size of the Automotive Research Experiment Station at 3361 Hulett Road in Okemos, which researchers formerly used for similar automotive research.

Capacity for faculty in the facility also will triple in size. Patterson said the university will seek additional faculty members who will oversee about 50 students who will use the facility.

Roughly half of the cost for the new building came from the university, Patterson said. Ford Motor Co. was the second-largest contributor, donating $2.5 million.

Jon D’Angelo, an electrical engineering graduate student, has already used the facility as a member of an MSU team researching thermoelectric power as an alternative energy source.

“The equipment and work we’re doing here is unbelievable,” D’Angelo said. “When I tell people about it, my enthusiasm sparks their interest, even if they had no clue about this technology.”

Tom Stuecken, a mechanical engineering research assistant working at the Hulett Road facility, said the old building will be missed – at least for a while.

“We customized the Hulett Road facility to the point that it fit like a glove,” Stuecken said. “But in a couple of years, when we’re familiar with all that’s new, it’s going to be nice to have a state-of-the-art facility and equipment to work with.”

Because the Hulett Road facility was located off campus, the MSU Board of Trustees voted to sell it at a listing price of $1.5 million, said Charles Reid, MSU Land Management director. The proceeds from the sale will likely be used to cover costs of the new building, he said.