Schoenecker Center
Liberal Arts Brought to Life
The Schoenecker Center is the university's central home for STEAM education at St. Thomas. We believe it is a national model for bolder, more interdisciplinary learning.
At St. Thomas, we prepare tomorrow's leaders to work with people from other fields and disciplines. The Schoenecker Center fuels innovation and provides a home for powerful training in these critical skills for our students.
(hint: it's critical to your future)
What is STEAM education?
STEAM education describes the exciting connections among science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. Employers tell us they are looking for graduates who can collaborate across these disciplines and solve problems with creative solutions. The Schoenecker Center fuels this kind of learning at St. Thomas.
Consider this -- many of the jobs our graduates will seek over the next 20 years don't exist today. That is one reason why St. Thomas puts an emphasis on experiential learning and interdisciplinary experiences, to help students learn to be nimble and flexible as they seek jobs in the future.
What is the Schoenecker Center?
The Overview
The Schoenecker Center is a first-of-its-kind space that brings together the arts, sciences, engineering and innovation in one integrated facility. This striking transformation of Summit Avenue and south campus will be the new academic center for the university.
- Over 130,000 square feet
- Five levels of open floor design with unique spaces for studying and group work
- Sustainable design in hopes of seeking LEED gold certification upon completion
What's Inside?
- High bay for engineering
- Emerging media newsroom and classrooms
- Science labs and offices
- Art gallery
- Choral and instrumental rehearsal and performance spaces
- Flexible spaces for collaboration and group work
- Cafe and community areas
Engineering
Nearly 60,000 square feet of new space transforms how the School of Engineering collaborates with campus partners and educates engineering students. There will be increased opportunities for course offerings and more room for experiments in areas such as sustainability, robotics, and energy.
Everyone can watch what’s happening in the new High Bay. Students will use this area for large-scale experimental research, student demonstrations that supplement lecture content and student engineering design competitions.
Arts and Sciences
We're putting collaboration and creative thinking on full display through an open and agile design concept that creates natural opportunities for artists, scientists and everyone in-between to come together for the common good.
The College of Arts and Sciences has always prepared students for what’s next through hands-on education, mentorship, and an array of interdisciplinary opportunities. The realization of this mission rises to new heights in the Schoenecker Center.
A Look Inside
Take a tour of the Schoenecker Center and learn more about the new spaces and unique learning opportunities.
Instrumental Rehearsal Hall
High Bay
Art Gallery
The new art gallery will feature rotating displays highlighting works by artists from the United States.
Emerging Media Newsroom
Choral Performance and Rehearsal Space
Labs and Classrooms
Meet the Donors
Guy and Barbara Schoenecker are well-known names at St. Thomas. Their family's philanthropic impact on campus led to the establishment of many scholarships and supported construction of important and transformative spaces on campus, including the new Schoenecker Center. This latest gift is truly befitting of an entrepreneur who felt the best ideas came from working collaboratively with a diverse group of people.