Give Now
The transformation of MEB into the Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building is the department’s largest undertaking ever, with an estimated cost of $41 million. Once it is completed, MechSE’s education, innovation, and community will bolster the department’s place among the nation’s elite engineering programs for decades to come.
Funding Progress
$3.7 million is still needed. Can you help us reach this goal?
Contact our Advancement Office to learn about the ways you can make an impact.
Alec Verone, Assistant Director of Corporate and Alumni Relations, 217-265-5251
Kendra Wolf, Associate Director of Advancement, 217-300-7297
Project Timeline
| Project Phase | Date |
|---|---|
| Groundbreaking celebration | October 12, 2018 |
| Building Design | Completed December 2018 |
| Faculty and staff move out of MEB | Summer 2018 through Spring 2019 |
| Construction | Spring 2019 through Spring/Summer 2021 |
| Faculty and staff move back in | Spring /Summer 2021 |
| Classes begin in the new Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building | Fall 2021 |
| Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting | October 1, 2021 |
Let's Make This Happen!
The project jolted to life in 2014 when alumnus Sidney Lu (BSME ’81; Math ’81) pledged a $12 million cornerstone gift for an east-wing addition—the largest part of the overall project. In 2018, Mr. Lu’s incredible spirit of giving was further exemplified with an additional generous pledge.
As leader of Foxconn Interconnect Technology, Mr. Lu is an excellent example of the world-class success our alumni can attain. It was an inspiring moment when he first mentioned his desire to see the project succeed, proclaiming “Let’s make this happen!” With your help, it can and will happen.
“There are always worthy causes in terms of philanthropy, but to me it’s most important not just to give but to enable. And we can do that through excellence in education, which personifies MechSE. There is really no better place for me to invest my money in society than right here at MechSE,” he said.
Executives From Sargent & Lundy Give a Boost to the Campaign
Chicago-based Sargent & Lundy has employed many MechSE graduates in its long history. In early 2018, nine S&L executives recently joined together to give a $500,000 gift toward MechSE’s Campaign to Transform MEB. The nine are CEO Tom White, Roger Coppel, Joe DiCola, Paul Predick, Steve Raupp, Mark Santschi, Terry Sopkin, Shiven Sulkar, and Dave Wright, who also serves as vice president of MechSE’s alumni advisory board.
For more than 125 years, S&L has provided comprehensive services for complex power generation and power transmission projects. S&L has an established record of accomplishments, including the design of 958 power plants for clients in public and private sectors worldwide.
“One of the reasons I wanted to get engaged with supporting this MechSE initiative is we all realize the fruit that comes out of Illinois helps this company regenerate itself continuously, and there’s quite a bit of value in supporting that. The other reason I’m fond of doing this is it gives us internally an opportunity to kind of pass the torch. We’re not going to be around forever,” said Steve Raupp (BSCEE ’78).
I have given to MechSE for many years because I believe it is important to assist our undergraduate and graduate students in their studies. If we are to maintain our position as one of the top engineering departments in the nation, we must be able to attract the best students and provide them with a top educational experience.
Robert Miller (BSAE ’54, MS TAM ’55, PhD TAM ’59)
Professor Emeritus, MechSE