Inside four 60-foot deep geothermal energy foundations, fluid circulates through high density polyethylene pipes to heat or cool before leading to a heat pump, providing heating and cooling to areas of the new building. The foundations are instrumented with thermistor strings, fiber optic cables and strain gages to continuously collect data to monitor the performance of the system as well as thermo-mechanical response of the ground. Collected data will be used to evaluate system performance and for classroom analysis.

Woonerf area – a plaza area for pedestrians, cyclists and parking – with potential future use for autonomous vehicle testing.

Vibration sensor arrays located along beam lines on the floor level measure horizontal and vertical motion. The high-fidelity sensors provide a full set of data from which accurate vibration motions can be computed and linked to weather, pedestrian traffic or other structural stimuli.

Collaboration areas inside the bridge provide students a place to study, work together and pass time between classes.

Expansion sensors will monitor the expansion joints on the abutments.

A wall-mounted screen by the north entrance displays the real-time data being collected.

Dynamic glass windows adapt from clear to dark in sunlight, helping to moderate the interior temperature.

Permanent weather station provides wind information such as direction, speed and barometric pressure, allowing for monitoring of wind events and their effects. Using data collected from the anemometer during periods of high wind and comparing it to data from the other sensors, faculty and students can analyze how wind speed and direction impacts bridge measurements (for example, accelerations and strain). 

Vibration sensor arrays on the roof measure horizontal motion. Data is collected via cables running through the ceiling to the data acquisition and storage hub, located in the CEE Building.