Pittsburg State University has broken ground on a 47,000-square-foot "prove-out" research center next to the National Institute for Materials Advancement at the Tyler Research Center. The facility will support materials science, chemistry and plastics engineering by enabling small production runs and real-world testing. Officials say it will expand applied learning for students and provide research space for businesses. The $12,000,000 project is funded by state, federal and private sources and is expected to open next year.
Pittsburg State Breaks Ground on 47,000‑Sq‑Ft 'Prove‑Out' Research Center to Accelerate Materials Innovation
Pittsburg State University has broken ground on a 47,000-square-foot "prove-out" research center next to the National Institute for Materials Advancement at the Tyler Research Center. The facility will support materials science, chemistry and plastics engineering by enabling small production runs and real-world testing. Officials say it will expand applied learning for students and provide research space for businesses. The $12,000,000 project is funded by state, federal and private sources and is expected to open next year.
09:54 AM, 11/11/2025Economy
Pittsburg State University breaks ground on new research center
Pittsburg State University has begun construction on a new 47,000-square-foot research facility adjacent to the National Institute for Materials Advancement at the Tyler Research Center. University and regional leaders say the center is designed to bridge campus research and industry, accelerating materials science, chemistry and plastics engineering innovations.
The building will operate as a "prove-out facility": a dedicated space where businesses, entrepreneurs and university researchers can collaborate to produce small production runs, test prototypes and assess commercial viability before scaling up. Officials emphasize the dual benefit of expanding applied learning opportunities for students while offering companies hands-on access to laboratory and pilot-scale equipment.
Funding and timeline: The $12,000,000 project is funded through a combination of state and federal appropriations and private donations. Groundbreaking has occurred, and the facility is expected to open next year.
"A prove-out facility is a place where business and industry can come in and produce small runs of technology that they've developed, inventions they've worked on, and have access to researchers as well as lab facilities to test it out and to see its long-term viability," said Chris Childers, Ph.D., dean of Pittsburg State University's College of Arts & Sciences.
"Although this is focused on civilian and commercial spin-offs, I think there will be potential for military applications as well. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will work closely with the university, the community, and the region on that aspect," said U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt.
"Students are looking for applied learning opportunities that let them get hands-on experience and build clear career pathways," said Blake Benson of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce.
University leaders and local officials describe the center as a potential regional economic driver that can help incubate startups, retain talent, and translate academic research into market-ready products. The groundbreaking ceremony drew local, state and federal representatives, underscoring broad support for the project.