From day one, ECE students have access to modern, purpose-built spaces designed to support hands-on learning, experimentation, and creative problem-solving. Our facilities are more than classrooms — they are places where theory meets practice, and where students build the skills that define a career in engineering.
Design Education Laboratory — "The Fishbowl"
Room 1239 — Perched on the 12th floor of Benedum Hall and entirely enclosed in glass, the Design Education Laboratory — known to students as the Fishbowl — is the showcase space of the ECE department. Open 24 hours a day, it serves as a classroom, a meeting place for workshops, and a study space, giving students around-the-clock access to a wide variety of tools and equipment. The space was designed with students in mind from the start: the custom workbenches were conceived and built by ECE alumni while they were still undergraduates, providing a durable, and spacious surface for working on complex hardware and software projects.
Features include:
- Custom-designed workbenches
- Testing equipment including soldering stations, power supplies, multimeters, and oscilloscopes
- Tools for assembly of prototypes
It is the kind of space that makes prospective students stop in the hallway and look twice.
Electronics Education Laboratory
Room 1223 — The Electronics Education Laboratory is where students develop the hands-on skills that underpin much of electrical and computer engineering. Each workstation is outfitted with a fully equipped, industry-grade electronics workbench — including oscilloscopes, signal generators, programmable power supplies, and multimeters — giving students direct experience with the same tools they will encounter in industry. The lab supports a wide range of undergraduate laboratory courses and is designed to bridge the gap between classroom concepts and real-world engineering practice.
Computing and Embedded Systems Laboratory
Room 1211 — The Computing and Embedded Systems Laboratory supports courses in software development, embedded systems, and hardware-software interfaces. Students work directly with the kinds of systems that power everything from consumer electronics to medical devices to autonomous vehicles, gaining practical fluency in programming microcontrollers, designing embedded applications, and understanding how software and hardware interact at a fundamental level.
Electric Power Systems Lab (EPSL)
Sponsored in-kind by Eaton and located on the Energy Floor of Benedum Hall, the Electric Power Systems Lab is where the future of energy comes to life. Students and researchers work side by side on some of the most pressing challenges in modern engineering — from smart grid technologies and renewable energy integration to AC and DC micro-grids, power electronics, and automation. The lab is equipped for both cutting-edge research and hands-on coursework, giving students direct exposure to industry-level technology and the kind of real-world experience that sets them apart after graduation. Learn more about EPSL.
Student Electronics Resource Center (SERC) & Machine Shop
SERC was built on the idea that students should have fundamental hands-on knowledge passed down to them by skilled staff members of the department. Located in Room 1217 of Benedum Hall, SERC is where students roll up their sleeves and learn by doing — designing PCBs, soldering circuits, operating 3D printers and laser cutters, and working through real electronics challenges from start to finish. The on-site Machine Shop extends those capabilities further, giving students access to fabrication tools including lathes, drill presses, and band saws. Staff provide training and guidance throughout, making both spaces accessible regardless of prior experience. Whether you are just getting started with hands-on electronics or deep into a complex capstone project, SERC is the place to turn ideas into reality.
JB Superstore
JB Superstore is a one-of-a-kind resource for students working on projects and coursework. Electronics components, sensors, and prototyping materials are available to ECE students — all provided free of charge. Whether you are building a circuit for a class assignment or prototyping an idea for a design competition, the store ensures you have what you need without worrying about the cost.
