INTRODUCING DROSDICK HALL

As the 2024-25 academic year begins, Villanova University officially opens Drosdick Hall—the new home of the College of Engineering—following the completion of a $125 million, 150,000-square-foot expansion that further underscores the University’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and innovation as part of its Strategic Plan.

A NEW ERA FOR THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Developed through a collaborative process with input from engineering faculty and students and designed by BLTa–A Perkins Eastman Studio and Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP, this ambitious and forward-looking project more than doubled the size of the College of Engineering’s primary academic building. In addition to creating a new home for the entire engineering community, the expansion impacts and elevates every aspect of the College’s academic and student experience with improved and expanded research facilities focused on interdisciplinary connections and state-of-the-art instruction spaces for hands-on, problem-oriented and team-based learning.

Introducing Drosdick Hall

Introducing Drosdick Hall

A world-class facility designed to match a world-class education.  

Impact of Drosdick Hall Expansion

Realize the Impact

The expanded College of Engineering building better enables Villanova engineers to collaborate and innovate.

A SPACE FOR COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION

With every College of Engineering department in one location—rather than being spread across 6 buildings on campus—collaboration, innovation and a sense of distinctive College identity will grow and thrive. From the placement of faculty offices to lab configurations to gathering spaces, every aspect of the expansion is designed to foster connections and facilitate collaborative discovery and cross-disciplinary advances. In addition to serving as a learning and innovation hub for Villanova engineers, the expanded building benefits the entire Villanova community with common spaces open to all.

The 150,000 sq. ft. addition more than doubles the existing 92,000 sq. ft. building and allows space for:

More than 20 additional research laboratory spaces—an expansion of engineering lab space of more than 60 percent.
The two-story Drosdick Innovation Lab—open to any student in an engineering program—which includes laser and 3-D printers, workbenches and workspaces, tools and equipment for building, and will be able to accommodate the Formula SAE car.
The Jones Family Student Learning Commons, a community space at the heart of the building for all Villanovans to gather, study and learn.

Green roofs—instrumented with smart systems to collect and monitor climate and soil moisture data—which will serve as cutting-edge teaching and research resources.
State-of-the-art instruction spaces that can adapt to small discussion and larger lecture formats.
Dedicated and centrally located spaces for the College of Engineering’s master’s and doctoral students, enhancing their experience as part of the College community and strengthening the entire academic environment.

DROSDICK HALL FAST FACTS

INSIDE THE BUILDING

A closer look at how the expansion project enhances teaching and learning in the College of Engineering.

Jones Family Student Learning Commons

A gathering space at the heart of the building, the Jones Family Student Learning Commons has been designed with community in mind. Named by retired Air Products and Chemicals Chairman and CEO John P. Jones III ’72 ChE and his wife, Denise, the three-story, light-filled atrium is an ideal space for students of all majors to gather in study groups or meet informally between classes—and potentially form new partnerships. “I think the Commons will allow students at Villanova to collaborate and talk about research ideas more freely and more comfortably compared to in classrooms or in research labs,” says Pamela Samonte ’19 MSChE, ’24 PhD, a doctoral candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Multidisciplinary Labs

The expansion includes nearly two dozen state-of-the-art laboratories, resulting in a more than 60% increase in research space. These innovative labs were designed to facilitate creativity around topical areas of research. The new Robotics Lab, for instance, “will provide a large space where students and faculty can work together to develop innovative robotic platforms for collaborative human-robot missions,” says Hashem Ashrafiuon, PhD, professor of Mechanical Engineering. “The platforms include autonomous and semi-autonomous ground, air and marine robots employed in various applications including humanitarian missions such as demining.”

Drosdick Innovation Lab

Named for John G. Drosdick ’65 ChE, retired chairman and CEO of Sunoco Inc., and his wife, Gloria J. Drosdick, the Drosdick Innovation Lab houses 3-D printers, high-tech workstations and other essentials for the design-build-test process of engineering. The two-story maker space is also viewable to the public, putting students’ innovations on full display. “There will be plenty of tools available for students to make things,” says Sridhar Santhanam, PhD, professor and chair of Mechanical Engineering. “They’ll all be in there working together on various projects, and that’s going to spur a lot of new innovations and new projects, and it should be exciting.”

Instrumented Green Roofs

Lab space in the expansion project stretches beyond the building’s walls to include three green roofs, adding to the extensive living laboratory of green stormwater infrastructure already on Villanova’s campus. “These sites not only help manage the building’s stormwater runoff, they’ll also serve as testbeds for students to explore research concepts and gain skills that will place them at the forefront of sustainable stormwater management practices,” says Bridget Wadzuk, PhD, ’00 CE, director of Strategic Initiatives and the Edward A. Daylor Chair in Civil Engineering.

Multifunctional Classrooms

Instructional spaces in the new building were designed to adapt to the needs of the College. While the large lecture hall “will provide state-of-the-art instructional technologies to enhance student learning,” says David Jamison, PhD, associate dean for Undergraduate Affairs, it will also be useful when hosting lectures, open houses and other gatherings. “Having a large space to welcome prospective students and their families during our recruiting events will be an excellent way to show off the College’s impressive facilities,” says Gayle Doyle, associate director of Undergraduate Student Services and Program Operations.

Graduate Spaces

Master’s and doctoral students have dedicated spaces within the new building, enhancing their on-campus experience—and strengthening the learning environment for all. With centrally located offices and communal areas, the building seamlessly weaves this growing group of engineers in with the greater College community. “Giving our graduate students a home in our new building underscores their important contributions to our College,” says Garrett Clayton, PhD, associate dean for Graduate Studies. “Not just in research labs, but as contributors to our broader mission in the classroom, in our community and beyond."

Expanded Cafe Space

The new building is home to a café where students, faculty and staff can refuel and catch up over a cup of coffee. “The Holy Grounds café will continue to serve as the College’s proverbial ‘water cooler’—the ideal space for relaxation and refreshment between classes or labs, an opportunity to meet up with friends and colleagues or simply laugh along with the friendly café staff,” says Keith Argue, associate dean for External Relations. “And since the coffee’s always fresh, it will always be my favorite place in the building."

BUILDING NAMING: DROSDICK HALL

Rendering of exterior of expanded CEER building.

The new home for the College of Engineering has been named Drosdick Hall in recognition of $20 million in ongoing support of the College’s building expansion project from John G. Drosdick ’65 (COE).

Mr. Drosdick is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of Sunoco, Inc., and a former chair of the Villanova University Board of Trustees. A longstanding supporter of Villanova University and the College of Engineering, Mr. Drosdick also previously endowed the College of Engineering deanship through the Drosdick Endowed Dean’s Fund, which supports the ongoing strategic priorities of the College, as well as the John G. Drosdick Endowed University Scholarship, which supports engineering students with demonstrated financial need.

ABOUT THE BUILDING NAMING

VILLANOVA'S STRATEGIC PLAN

To support Villanova’s growth in national stature and research output, the University is transforming and increasing academic spaces with an emphasis on the STEM areas as part of its Rooted. Restless. Strategic Plan. The expansion of the College of Engineering building not only advances this initiative addressing academic spaces, but also initiatives related to research and teaching and learning. The renovated building will add teaching labs, research labs and study space on campus—Villanova’s greatest needs—and by consolidating the College of Engineering into one main building will make available others for future projects.

Rooted. Restless.—Villanova University’s Strategic Plan 2020-2030

ABOUT VILLANOVA'S STRATEGIC PLAN