The Worcester Polytechnic Institute broke ground on its Foisie Innovation Studio and announced on Wednesday that alumni had raised $9 million in three months to help bring the project to fruition.
The $49-million, 78,000-square-foot facility includes a robotics lab, makerspace and high-tech classrooms that will allow students to dive into STEM education. The space will allow students to find a commercialization pathway for their projects, according to a release from WPI. The building also includes a three-floor residence hall with space for 140 students.
The new building was partially funded by $18 million in fundraising. In the past 18 months, $9 million of that was raised by 1,300 alumni to meet a $3-million challenge grant from the George I. Alden Trust.
