Howard Community College Breaks Ground on New 'SET' Building

A new building to house science, engineering and technology programs broke ground recently in Columbia.

Howard Community College held a groundbreaking on Friday for what it is calling its new “SET building.”

The 145,300-square-foot building will be four stories and include the following:

• Cybersecurity lab
• Digital Fabrication/3D printing room
• Greenhouse
• Engineering build room
• Rooftop observation area
• Drop zone for testing physics and other experiments

There will also be undergraduate research labs, faculty offices, learning commons, flexible classroom spaces, group and individual study rooms and an outdoor classroom, according to Howard Community College.

The building will be located along Campus Drive, forming a quad with the health sciences building and Rouse Company Foundation Hall, the college reports; see a map here.

Howard County and the state of Maryland are funding construction of the building, according to the college, which said its programs in science, engineering and technology will fill a need in the region’s work force.

Officials anticipate construction will be complete by the end of 2016, with the building ready for opening use by summer 2017.

Photos courtesy of Howard Community College.