Located west of the Joyce Eichhorn Ames School of Art and Design, the 14,850-square-foot facility will serve as a hub for imagination, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Foundational donors made The Petrick Idea Center possible — the late David Petrick ‘67 and his wife Ellen (Reid) Petrick ‘68, Marc Talluto ‘94 and his wife Noel, and Ann (Marquis) Fisher ‘82 and her husband Alan Fisher. IWU Board of Trustees Chair Tim Szerlong ‘74, recalled Dave Petrick’s comment to architects in the early planning stages: “The most important thing is to make sure students from all disciplines are involved and feel welcome here. If they have an idea, they can create it at The Petrick Idea Center.”
How do we create a facility that inspires and fosters students interested in pursuing entrepreneurship and learning while making while creating business opportunity ideas for the future in a Liberal Arts Environment?
We designed a highly flexible multi-purpose space that allows for the design-thinking process to occur through prototyping, maker spaces and unique working studio spaces where students can develop products and ideas for the marketplace.
- 14,850 s.f.
- Prototyping Tools
- Ampitheater
- Collaborative Meeting and Teaching Spaces
- Test Kitchen
- 3D Printers
- Sewing Machines
- Power Tools
- Audio and Video Equipment
“Entrepreneurship means you have to identify a problem, critically evaluate that problem, creatively come up with solutions, communicate your solution, and take action. In any program, you have to solve problems and think creatively. That’s what we should be striving for, and that’s what this center will allow us to do."
Bryan McCannon, Director of the School of Business and Economics and Robert S. Eckley Endowed Professor of Economics
Utilizing input from students, faculty and the community, the new Carroll Center for Innovative learning was developed as a 21st century learning environment. The re-invented area includes formal and informal educational spaces that were right sized to support varied class sizes.
The Advanced Technology Education Center at Kankakee Community College provides advanced training in emerging energy technologies and industries.
Encounter Ministries is located at the heart of ISU campus. With a goal of creating a welcoming and inviting space for college students, the building will undergo an addition and expansion. The front entrance of the building will be extended out as a landmark of the space, featuring a coffee lounge that can be transformed into a worship space. The project will also feature staff headquarters and offices, private conversation rooms, collaboration spaces, intern offices, and dedicated counselling offices.