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Aerial photo of the construction site from May 10th

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From the main corridor looking north

Looking east from the flight simulation center

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In the early 1990s, CASA instituted plans for a Transportation Education Center (TEC), a state of the art facility that would enhance Southern’s world-class transportation programs. Ground was broken at the Southern Illinois Airport in the summer of 2010 and the TEC is expected to be completed in late summer/early fall of 2012.

TEC, a $63 million project is composed of three buildings. The main building (185,910 square feet) is over two football fields long. Also included is a fleet storage building with a covered lot (31,868 square feet) and a test cell center (10,910 square feet). TEC will provide plenty of space for classrooms, faculty offices, teaching bays, meeting rooms and labs.

Southern has a proven long track record training some of the best transportation professionals in our select fields. TEC will allow us to continue this proud tradition.

The TEC Team l-r: Mike Behrmann, Dept. Chair, Automotive Technology, Kevin Lister, CASA Development Officer, Will Devenport, CASA Interim Associate Dean, Terry Owens, CASA Interim Dean, David NewMyer, Dept. Chair, Aviation Management & Flight, Michael Burgener, Dept. Chair, Aviation Technologies.

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Construction of the new facilities is moving along very well and we have been given a substantial completion target of July 2012. Our goal is to have the new facilities completely operationalized for the start of the fall 2012 semester. We invite you to follow the construction by accessing the webcam at: http://www.transportation.siuc.edu/webcam/.

My academic background is in architecture, so it has been fortunate timing and a great honor for me to become so actively engaged in this project at this time. Of all of my experiences in serving as the interim dean, one thing that has made a great impression on me has been the camaraderie and support of the automotive and aviation alums. You are a very special group and the automotive and aviation programs and SIUC are fortunate to have your continued support and loyalty.

Best wishes,
Terry A. Owens
Interim Dean

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SIUC Automotive Technology continues to supply the industry with highly successful graduates. Being recognized as one of the nation’s premiere automotive programs, the Department owes its success to the drive, passion, and support of its students, faculty, staff, and of course its alumni.

Honoring the hard work and dedication of many, a new campus called the Transportation Education Center (TEC) is under construction. The TEC will be replacing all of the automotive facilities in Carterville and will allow for the Department to continue its proud tradition and rich history.

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The new test cell will impact the department and students in a number of ways. First and foremost is safety. Students and faculty will be able to operate engines in a safe and controlled environment. Over the years students have run engines outdoors in aircraft and on test “buggies”. There have been a number of break-aways, a number of engine fires, and always the spinning propellers and fan blades providing an extra element of danger. The new test cell, with its fire suppression systems and state of the art exhaust handling systems, will provide a level of safety never before experienced at SIUC.

New Test Cell Building

Another great attribute of the engine test cell will be its capacity to deepen the knowledge and understanding of students about the engines that they operate and maintain. In the past, students have only had the aircraft on-board gages and instruments to rely on when making adjustments. They had no capacity to record multiple readings electronically, or to study airflow, pressures, and temperatures at each stage of the engine’s operating cycle. The new test cell will be packed with the most advanced instrumentation and data acquisition equipment. There will be a dynamometer for measuring horsepower and torque. For the first time, students will truly be able to make scientific observations of engine operating cycles in a safe and secure environment.

A third positive attribute of the aviation test cell will be its impact on faculty and student research. This facility will provide a research laboratory like no other. Several faculty members currently conducting research on engines are about to get an injection of high technology that will turbo charge their research agendas. This increased emphasis on research will provide more opportunities for students to get involved with research in the form of undergraduate research assistantships.

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