In February 2008, jackhammers began breaking up the sidewalk on O'Hara Street, marking the beginning of a new life for Benedum Hall. The $100-million transformation plan includes total renovation of existing space and construction of new space, such as the research facilities for the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, a three-story building that will connect Benedum Hall across the plaza to the auditorium.

View construction photos and videos, project timeline, and floor plans.

To fully implement all the components of the transformation plan, the Swanson School is seeking to raise $40 million. These funds are in addition to the more than $60 million already committed by the University for Phase I projects, and the $8.5 million committed by alumnus Jack Mascaro for the new building dedicated to the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI). Naming opportunities exist within a broad range of gift amounts, all of which can be pledged over a period of up to five years.

View naming opportunities, signage samples, and donor profiles.

A Swanson School student has won a 2008 Goldwater Scholarship, continuing the school's tradition of winning the prestigious national award.

Todd Morton Moyle, a chemical engineering sophomore, has been awarded a 2008 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for his exceptional independent research in engineering. Moyle, also a University Honors College student, is from Sayre, Pa.

Read more about Moyle's research and the five other Swanson School Goldwater Scholars.

Continued demand for admission has resulted again in record Freshman enrollment and SAT scores:

The reputation of the Swanson School is resulting in greater numbers of applications, especially from out-of-state students:

Put on your hard hat and come back to campus during homecoming for tours of the transformation of Benedum Hall. (Don't worry, we'll provide you with a hard hat if you don't have your own.)

In addition to construction tours, this year's homecoming festivities will once again include the Alumni Academy lunch, the inaugural Westinghouse Distinguished Lecture, featuring a presentation by Ted Belytschko, the Walter P. Murphy Professor and McCormick Professor of Computational Mechanics at Northwestern University, and an evening family-themed reception on the patio of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial to recognize reunion-year classes and watch the spectacular fireworks display.

Full event details available online at the alumni events Web site.

Dedicated in memory of Albert G. Holzman (BSIE '49, MSIE '54, PhD '58), beloved faculty member and department chair for more than two decades, the creation of the Holzman Learning Center has been made possible through the generosity of more than 200 industrial engineering alumni and friends. This state-of-the-art classroom complex began holding classes this fall semester, giving the Department of Industrial Engineering a truly unique instructional facility. The Holzman Learning Center will be formally dedicated on Friday, October 3, 2008.

Invitations will be mailed to all donors this month. For questions about the event, please call the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 412-624-2344.

The nightmare call comes into the station—students in a nearby elementary school are being held hostage at gunpoint. With only moments to respond, members of the police force check their gear in mere seconds, cuffs, vest, gun, Taser®, and RFID tag.

See what happens next.