The center represents a $35 million to $40 million investment in the Dayton region during the next five years, starting with a $20 million capital investment, said Ed Purvis, Emerson Climate Technologies executive vice president.
“This new facility will clearly establish the University of Dayton and Emerson as the premiere location for discussing and understanding the future of the heating and air conditioning industry,” Purvis said.
The center will feature interactive, real-world laboratories that bring together company experts, industry leaders, and UD faculty and students to advance technology used in homes, the retail and food services industry, commercial businesses, and data and computer centers around the world, he said.
UD’s master plan carved out the former NCR land between South Main Street and South Patterson Boulevard that the school acquired in 2005 for the attraction of high-technology companies such as Emerson and GE Aviation to the school’s campus, said Daniel J. Curran, university president.
“We envisioned attracting strong companies that could collaborate with the university in research, serve as real-world classrooms for our students, and spark economic development for the region,” Curran said.
Purvis said construction on the 40,000-square-foot center is scheduled to start in October, pending approval of state, county and city tax incentives. The center is expected to open in late 2015 or early 2016.
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