Part of Corrigan Hall’s first floor will undergo renovations to convert the Information Technology (IT) office spaces into research and training laboratory and instructional facilities beginning in January, according to a university-issued press release.
The first floor will feature new spaces like a semiconductor laboratory, an optics/laser laboratory, an instructional and meeting lab, a student collaboration space and faculty offices.
This project will also include renovations to the lower-level office space in Corrigan Hall, made possible by the IT services’ relocation to the Innovation Hub in Walsh Library.
At the beginning of the spring semester, students and faculty can visit the Innovation Hub’s Solutions Studio on Walsh Library’s first floor for in-person help with laptop assistance, issues logging into the SHU network, and general questions about university technology.
Classrooms and other offices will not be affected during the renovation. Construction will continue through the spring and summer semesters, with an expected completion date of September 2026.
The renovation accommodates new instrumentation supported by $963,000 in federal funding for semiconductor research, secured by Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill with support from Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez in 2024.
The grant, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), expands Seton Hall’s instrumentation infrastructure and capabilities to study “how low-temperature plasmas used in advanced manufacturing of current and next generation semiconductor materials are used in the fabrication of microchips and microelectronics,” the press release said.
The research aligns with the priorities outlined in the U.S. Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, which aims to strengthen domestic semiconductor innovation and workforce development, the press release said.
Jonathan Farina, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said Corrigan Hall’s renovation strengthens SHU’s physics and engineering programs.
“The new labs with industry-aligned equipment will provide more students the kinds of hands-on experiences that Seton Hall is committed to providing, and they do so at a pivotal moment in the growing fields of computer engineering, materials science, green energy and more,” Farina said.
Both undergraduate and graduate students studying physics, chemistry, and applied science and engineering will use these facilities to “build on existing research capabilities of the University’s Advanced Materials Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory and the Laboratory of Electrophysics and Atmospheric Plasma (LEAP),” the press release said.
The project is built on a long-term plan to expand science facilities into Corrigan Hall, to “continue interdisciplinary and collaborative research among faculty and students,” aligning with priorities in SHU’s strategic plan.
“By updating laboratories and creating facilities that mirror industry and advanced research settings, the project furthers the University’s commitment to providing transformative student experiences and driving academic innovation and research that address real-world challenges,” Interim Provost Erik Lillquist said.
Dominique Mercadante is the Editor-in-Chief of The Setonian. She can be reached at dominique.mercadante@student.shu.edu.
