A symbol of our expanding role as a national and global leader in research and innovation
Traci Westcott/RIT
RIT President Bill Sanders addresses students, faculty, and staff at RIT’s newest research facility, a 39,000-square-foot multifunctional building. The research includes 18 labs with the capacity to be either wet or dry labs—including special fume hoods, water, or electrical utilities, and bio-level safety measures.
Good morning, everyone! It’s wonderful to see all of you here for this exciting moment in RIT’s continued growth and transformation. Today, we celebrate the opening of the RIT Research Building, a powerful new addition to our campus and a symbol of our expanding role as a national and global leader in research and innovation.
Traci Westcott/RIT
RIT President Bill Sanders meets with students in the new Research Building. Here, groundbreaking research will be supported in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer vision and natural language processing, advanced manufacturing of 2D polymers, the health impacts of e-cigarettes and vaping, and the cognitive science Ph.D. program.
I want to take a moment to thank, and recognize, some of the people who made this project possible: Jen Wozniak, Tori Budgeon-Baker and Mark Williams, who I understand is now retired, from our Facilities Management Services team, who have led this effort with exceptional vision and dedication. They worked hand in hand with HBT Architects, now part of MRB Group, and DGA Builders, along with other campus partners, to bring this project to life, on time and on budget, despite global supply chain challenges. To all of you, thank you.
Several of the labs in this building have already been allocated to faculty from the Colleges of Science, Engineering, and Computing and Information Sciences, with additional space reserved for future hires. And that’s a critical point I really want to highlight because this facility is more than just a building. It’s a strategic investment in our people.
As our research portfolio continues to grow, so too must our capacity to support it. This building reflects RIT’s commitment to giving our faculty, staff and students the tools they need to push boundaries, pursue bold ideas, and make an impact in the world.
When top researchers visit RIT, they see a university that is serious about research, one that provides cutting-edge facilities, fosters collaboration, and supports innovation. This building will help us attract and retain world-class faculty, the kind of scholars who inspire students, drive discovery, and elevate the university’s reputation globally.
In many ways, the RIT Research Building represents the next step in our journey, from a university known for innovation in teaching and technology, to one equally recognized for research that changes lives and moves the world forward.
So, to everyone who played a part in making this vision a reality, thank you. You’ve created a space that will nurture curiosity, collaboration, and creativity for years to come.
It’s now my pleasure to introduce someone who has been instrumental in shaping RIT’s research strategy and guiding our growth in this area, our Vice President for Research Dr. Ryne Raffaelle. Ryne has been a tireless advocate for expanding RIT’s research enterprise and for providing our faculty and students with the resources they need to excel.
Please join me in welcoming Ryne Raffaelle.