KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 24, 2026

Excitement stirred on April 23 as Kennesaw State University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new 70,000-square-foot Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center.

Rising prominently over Technology Way near the main entrance of the Marietta Campus, the structure reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to accelerate research innovation and impact, and advancing society through bold, collaborative discovery. By connecting experts from varied fields, the building expands research capacity and speeds the path from discovery to real‑world solutions, all within a shared campus space.

“Today marks a major milestone for Kennesaw State and for the future of research and innovation at KSU,” President Kathy S. Schwaig said. “The Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center was designed to advance collaborative interdisciplinary research and teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, fields that are central to the challenges and opportunities of our time.”

Among those gathered for a first look inside the $60 million structure were the building’s namesake—longtime KSU benefactors Robin and Doug Shore—and dignitaries from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, state representatives, and community leaders. Following opening remarks, guests were invited to tour the facility, which houses four new labs, a makerspace, two classrooms, and 22 faculty research teams. The building also houses the Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship Center, a unit of the Michael J. Coles College of Business, and the Office of Research’s Center for Interactive Media.

In addition to the guided tours, the event served as an opportunity to honor the Shores, who since 1999 have made more than 80 individual contributions benefiting many Kennesaw State initiatives. They are among the largest combined donors in KSU history, with their impact ranging from arts and athletics to veterans and everything in between.

“It is especially fitting that this building bears the names Robin and Doug Shore,” Schwaig added. “For years, Robin and Doug have played a pivotal role in expanding entrepreneurship education and innovation at Kennesaw State, while steadfastly supporting our students and their ideas. Their legacy of service and philanthropy at Kennesaw State touches nearly every corner of our university.”

Campus collaborations with community impact

The building is a shared research and teaching hub that places interdisciplinary labs side by side, supported by shared research spaces, modern computing tools, and flexible classrooms. It’s a space where faculty work within the reach of colleagues outside their home fields, where students move between projects and perspectives, and where external partners are invited into the space as collaborators rather than observers.

“Tomorrow’s most pressing challenges transcend any single discipline, and meeting them requires an environment where scholars from diverse fields can work side by side,” said Karin Scarpinato, executive vice president of research. “The Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center embodies that philosophy. By fostering collaboration and expanding our research capacity, it positions KSU to translate discovery into meaningful impact for the communities we serve.”

Among the examples of the collaborative efforts within the building is a water quality monitoring project that brings together faculty from four colleges to help communities detect contamination earlier. Led by Ahyoung Lee, assistant professor of computer science, the project focuses on developing systems that monitor water conditions in real time and provide earlier warnings when safety is at risk.

“This is not just a schoolhouse project,” Lee said. “This is work with the community outside KSU.”

The project is supported by external funding and partnerships with local governments and nonprofit organizations, allowing research to be tested in real environments rather than simulated ones. It exemplifies the KSU’s research model where, from the very beginning, projects are developed with application in mind.

“In this building, the innovation lab is more hands-on,” Lee said. “It’s not just paper research. This is real-world impact.”

Another example of this impact can be found in the work of Da Hu, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. His research uses advanced tools like ground‑penetrating radar and artificial intelligence to locate and map underground infrastructure, including gas and water pipelines. He said the Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center will strengthen this work by bringing researchers from different fields closer together, making collaboration easier.

“I believe this will speed up the research,” Hu said. “We will have space, and we can collaborate with other people, especially with input from computer science. That will help us move the work forward.”

By placing related research efforts together, the new facility creates opportunities for shared problem-solving across disciplines that might not otherwise interact. Researchers focused on different challenges benefit from proximity, shared infrastructure, and a constant exchange of ideas.

“Research is becoming more and more interdisciplinary,” said Mehmet Aktas, associate professor of data science and analytics. “To make that research active, it’s important to put people together in the same place.”

An advantage for students

For students, the building reshapes learning. Inside, education is not limited to lectures or isolated lab assignments. Scholars at every stage—from incoming freshmen to graduate students—work alongside faculty on active projects, collaborate with peers from diverse disciplines, and observe how problems are defined and solved in real time.

“Putting all of us in one place is really advantageous, not only for KSU, but for the public good and definitely for our students,” said Amelia Estwick, assistant professor of information technology and director of the Cyber Nexus Lab.

Students gain experience that mirrors how work happens beyond the university, where collaboration, communication, and adaptability are essential. They leave with a clearer understanding of how their knowledge connects to real-world challenges.

“Over time, the impact of the Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center will be measured not by the number of labs it contains, but by the culture it creates,” Scarpinato said. “It is a place where collaboration is expected, curiosity is visible, and discovery is tied to application.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell and Travis Highfield

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.