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The University of New Haven announced it has secured an initial $10 million – toward its goal of raising $25 million – to renovate a 130,000-square-foot commercial property directly adjacent to its West Haven campus to establish a Center for Innovation and Applied Technology.

The initial amount raised, which is supported by a transformative $7.2 million anonymous donation, builds on the excitement created by the University’s hiring of former State of Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer Paul Lavoie to serve as its inaugural vice president of innovation and applied technology to oversee the development of the Center. The University purchased the 130,000-square-foot property and 12-acre lot on Campbell Avenue, across the street from the south end of its campus, at the end of 2024.

Donor support will fund the development of collaborative spaces in the Center for Innovation and Applied Technology that incorporate technology, data, and human capital to develop solutions to evolving market demands, while simultaneously enhancing students’ career readiness by creating opportunities to work alongside industry professionals.

“The interest in and excitement for our Center for Innovation and Applied Technology began with the extraordinary generosity of an anonymous donor whose humility in remaining unnamed has inspired others to step forward,” said Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., president of the University of New Haven. “This momentum is creating a unique opportunity for other trailblazing donors to match or surpass the support we have already received. We look forward to reaching our goal and being able to completely transform the space and the opportunities it provides for industry and our students.”

The $25 million the University is working to raise will support the complete renovation of the site and the “white boxing” of the existing space. Creating a state-of-the-art infrastructural platform positions move-in ready industry partners to collaborate with faculty experts and to provide real-world, hands-on learning opportunities for students.

“Our vision for creating a first-of-its kind, best-in-the-nation center that maximizes Connecticut’s comparative advantages in advanced manufacturing and applied technology is resonating with our supporters and with companies focused on educating the elite global workforce of the future,” said President Frederiksen. “The momentum created by this initial philanthropic support and the hiring of Paul Lavoie is positioning the University to build on its rich history of innovation and creating transformative experiences at the intersection of industry and academia. This Center puts us squarely at the forefront of delivering an unparalleled return on investment for our students and the companies that will partner with us on this most impactful work.”

The University is currently pursuing master research agreements and corporate partnerships with local, regional, and national entities, building on its reputation of being a sought-after partner for companies across a range of industries.

“Connecticut is a manufacturing powerhouse in the U.S., and we punch well above our weight class as it relates to innovation, patent creation, and the manufacturing of some of the most advanced products known to humans,” explained Lavoie. “Through our Center for Innovation and Applied Technology, we are building pathways from the University directly into industry so that companies can come into the Center, work on projects with our students, and train them, and then they'll be able to hire them right out of our university with a couple of projects under their belt and with real-world experience working with that company.

“We are taking a new approach to developing the workforce of the future,” continued Lavoie. “By engaging with industry, we are working to understand exactly what it is that they need and making sure that we're producing graduates who are going to meet the needs of the industry today, and, more importantly, meet the needs for tomorrow.”