The Applied Research Building
Designed to Enable Real World, Applied Innovations
The new ARB is envisioned to be a multi-story "core facility" building that provides new and regionally unique capabilities for the University, while consolidating a number of strategic cross campus interdisciplinary programs in one location to meet current—and future—research needs.
The ARB will focus on applied research programs in support of Grand Challenges, Pillar 2 of the University's Strategic Plan. The building will comprise a mix of space types including a large scale thermal vacuum chamber, high bay payload assembly areas, varying types of laboratories, clean rooms, faculty offices, collaboration spaces, and conference rooms.
The ARB will be located at the southeast corner of East Helen Street and North Highland Avenue, where it will house research that advances applied physical sciences and engineering. The building is expected to be completed in January 2023.
Examples of research that will be located in the ARB
The ARB will house the state-of-the-art equipment and technologies required to successfully carryout advanced research. Although no classes will be taught in ARB, students will have access to researchers and facilities to conduct undergraduate and graduate research.
UA’s Imaging Technology Laboratory (ITL) is a world-leading supplier of advanced scientific imaging sensors for the optical, UV, and X-ray spectral ranges. Currently located off campus, ARB will provide ITL additional space and cross-campus collaboration opportunities. The most common applications for imaging technology are in the fields of astronomy, satellite imagery, laboratory chemical analysis, and machine vision applications. ITL also develops and supports camera systems used on all UA telescopes
Advanced manufacturing designs and constructs new composites and applies nanotechnology techniques to make existing materials stronger, lighter, cheaper and more energy efficient. UA’s advanced manufacturing efforts also focus on on-demand 3D printing and additive manufacturing of aerospace parts. Additive manufacturing provides the ability to fabricate low-volume complicated, light-weight structures that cannot be made by conventional methods. Advanced manufacturing has important applications with regards to next generation combat vehicles and new hypersonic systems.
CubeSats, or nanosatellites, represent the next generation of spacecraft technology for space exploration and scientific investigation. Cubesats accelerate commercial and university innovation by reducing the cost of access to space, thereby expanding the range of missions and insights that are possible and enabling persistent Low Earth Orbit missions.
Balloon Payload Integration enables the building of stratospheric balloons. These balloons are platforms that can often provide the same capabilities as satellite but at a much lower cost. Like satellites, these platforms can carry complex instrumentation but do not require a launch vehicle and can sometimes be retrieved fully intact. Missions that might be considered for a stratospheric balloon are earth observing and preparation for balloons on other planets.
A large-scale thermal vacuum chamber that simulates environmental conditions in space to test.
A non-reflective, echo-free room called an anechoic chamber to test antennae for command, control and data relay purposes.
High-bay payload assembly areas used for constructing high-altitude stratospheric balloons and nanosatellites, also known as "CubeSats."
A large, dynamic testing lab for testing the performance of a range of objects, from airplane wings to sensors.
In the News
June 29, 2021 - Construction Begins on UArizona's New Applied Research Building
More information
Planning, Design & Construction
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