Before semiconductors became a national focus, Lorain County Community College (LCCC) was already helping manufacturers integrate microsensors and chips into real-world products—offering both technical expertise and access to specialized lab environments.
Client
Lorain County Community College
Location
Elyria, Ohio
Total Project Cost
$16 M
Project Type
Science & Technology
Photographer
Matthew Carbone
Size
47,300 sq. ft.
Services
Architecture, Construction Administration
Key Contact
Michael Mistriner
In this vein, LCCC engaged our Higher Education practice team to deliver the SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems: a shared-use facility that expedites the deployment of sensor-based technologies.
Tailored to serve both startups and mid-sized manufacturers, the center provides the critical infrastructure needed to create, test and refine microsystems such as micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS). On the first floor, precision cleanrooms—rated Class 100, 1,000 and 10,000—enable device packaging and lifecycle testing. These spaces were meticulously engineered with high-performance airflow, pressurization and filtration systems to ensure contamination control and protect sensitive processes.
Upper levels offer dedicated R&D labs, flexible incubation areas, classrooms and collaborative office suites. Participants can leverage in-house project management or bring their own trained staff to work safely within the center’s nexus—bridging the gap between concept and commercialization.
More than a technical resource, the SMART Commercialization Center is also an academic launchpad. Its creation spurred the development of a first-of-its-kind program at LCCC, offering associate and bachelor’s degrees in Microsystem Technology. The curriculum equips students for emerging careers in semiconductor design, advanced manufacturing and engineering, positioning them at the forefront of high-tech ingenuity.
Furthermore, the building is connected to LCCC’s adjacent Entrepreneurship Innovation Center (EIC) via a third-floor bridge, expanding the college’s mission of integrating education, industry and applied research.
Made possible by a blend of federal, state, and philanthropic funding—including a $5.5 million grant from Cleveland State University’s Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering—the SMART Commercialization Center continues to elevate Northeast Ohio as a regional hub for science education and workforce transformation.
