Engineering wing reflects rapid rise of department

A new wing at the Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building was officially unveiled Friday to accommodate the rapidly expanding school of bioengineering, which Provost Nariman Farvardin called "probably the fastest-rising department in all of the University of Maryland."

The new structure, which took one year and $7.6 million to build, is located on the Kim building's second floor. The interior of the 7,400-square-foot wing is predominately white and features a large lab capable of supporting physics, chemistry and biology experiments, said Bruce Yu, an associate professor of bioengineering who is moving into the new space.

"We [now] have a home," Yu said. "Once you have a home to conduct research, you can generate results."

Yu, who is studying how to make existing medicines more potent with fewer side effects, said the new wing will be more than just a place to work.

"It's going to boost our morale," he said.

Yu added that the bioengineering department is not the only one that will benefit the new wing. The entire engineering school will enjoy a better reputation and, therefore, a better chance of receiving grant money.

"Generally, working at a new space gives a good impression for students and visitors," said Yu "Tim" Chen, a bioengineering assistant professor who is moving into the wing. "It will be a boost for the growth of the department."

Professors are not the only ones who are looking forward to working at the new wing. Students will complete research there as well, working with professors to develop medical technology. According to the engineering school website, the new space will eventually house 30 students.

Bobak Shirmohammadi, a junior bioengineering major, is one of the students who has already started working in the new wing. Before he moved in, he did his research at the bioengineering labs in the Animal Sciences Building. He said the new wing offers more space for new technology than his previous lab did.

"Everything is more organized here," Shirmohammadi said. "It's more up-to-date, so that helps a lot."

The bioengineering department is the brainchild of Robert Fischell, a physicist and inventor who donated $31 million to establish the department about two and a half years ago. Farvardin said during the wing's ribbon-cutting ceremony that it all started back in 2001, when Fischell invited him to have lunch. During the meal, Fischell discussed his idea of establishing a fellowship, which ultimately led to the creation of the bioengineering department in December 2005.

Fischell, along with his wife and his son, David, were present at the ceremony Friday afternoon to see the culmination of all their work.

"This is a great thrill for me and my family," Fischell said. "I was just told by Nariman that we have the largest number of freshmen coming into any department in engineering ... and they have the highest GPA of any group in the University of Maryland. Now that is amazing."

But according to David Fischell, the new wing is not the final step in improving the bioengineering program.

"I think the next step that needs to happen is a connection with the medical school that needs to tighten," David Fischell said. "You need to bring doctors here … so that you can be there when the surgeon throws the tool against the wall and discuss to invent the next life-saving technology. ... You just started what I think is truly going to be a world-class department in biomedical engineering and really going to make a difference for both yourselves and mankind."

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