The campus community and the public are invited to an open house at the newly expanded Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) Sept. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The OEDK has added more than 6,000 square feet of space for student projects by renovating the basement and incorporating a dramatic staircase.

OEDK Director Maria Oden, a professor in the practice of engineering, said she is delighted by the strong support the Rice community, alumni and collaborators gave to the project. “On a very short timeline, they helped us to raise funds so that we can continue to do what we do,” she said. “It allowed us to increase access to learning and give our students a great facility where they can get hands-on experience, working on real-world problems.”

The facility, which opened in 2009, gives engineering students the space and resources to tackle their senior capstone design projects. It includes conference rooms, a classroom, a wet lab, rapid prototyping equipment, large-format printers, a designated woodworking area, a machine shop and access to a welding shop. The expansion doubles the available prototyping workspace and includes a large electronics lab, a dynamic conference room, dedicated computer stations and office space for new faculty and staff.