The Cyber and Engineering Academic Center (CEAC) at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point’s response to a global evolution in warfare, will mark the next chapter of mission readiness for the Army.
The state-of-the-art $186.7 million academic facility designed by Jacobs-EwingCole joint venture completed its beam-topping on June 22, 2023, keeping the project on schedule to hit its targeted completion in Spring 2025.
Designed to support multidisciplinary project-based engineering education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for cadets at West Point, the facility will provide cadets mission-ready training in digital domains as well as on physical battlefields. This event marked a significant milestone in the construction of the CEAC, showcasing the dedication and progress achieved in the planning, design, and ongoing construction of this state-of-the-art facility.
“We’re immensely proud of the work completed thus far and what this building, upon its completion, will represent,” said John Capelli, AIA, EwingCole’s Director of Government Practice. “This milestone signifies our collective dedication to reshaping the future of education for the cadets of West Point. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to the U.S. Military Academy, the Directorate of Public Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the entire construction team for their incredible work and collaboration.”
“Equipping institutions like West Point with facilities like the CEAC is a representation of Jacobs’ commitment to aiming higher and developing the brightest minds of tomorrow through STEAM-based solutions,” said Jacobs People & Places Solutions Senior Vice President & General Manager Federal & Environmental Solutions Susannah Kerr. “Our work alongside EwingCole enables advanced education of the cadets at West Point on addressing the most difficult global warfare challenges, while also supporting the U.S. Army’s cyber mission.”
The Jacobs-EwingCole JV conceived the design with a focus on innovation and collaboration, while also integrating the USMA’s traditions and history. The new CEAC will be the focal point of the enhanced gateway to the historic academic campus. It will be located at the ‘gateway’ to the West Point cadet central area on Thayer Road. The design was also the recipient of the 2020 Society of American Military Engineers Planning, Design and Studies Merit Award.
The award-winning design will underpin collaboration for all capstone projects through the provision of makerspaces, support areas and collaboration zones. The center will also provide space for all departments, supported by specialized labs for high-bay robotics, robotics development, mechatronics, prototype development, project support, high-end fabrication, electrical engineering, computer science and systems engineering.
The CEAC combines disciplined military thinking with innovative contemporary teaching methods, and its cutting-edge design will foster innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction among cadets, visitors, and faculty. The facility has been designed with flexibility and adaptability in mind so that future mission changes can keep pace with a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Construction on the project began in 2020 and is expected to be complete in Spring 2025.