Design and Construction Report staff writer
UNC Charlotte and Honeywell have announced a $10 million investment that will expand STEM workforce development and accelerate innovation across the Charlotte region.
The funding will support the transformation of UNC Charlotte’s Burson Hall into the Honeywell Innovation Hub — a 155,000-sq. ft. complex for applied research and STEM education. The project, expected to open in 2027, is being led by DPR Construction, which is serving as the construction manager at risk. The investment will also fund scholarships for high-achieving students, faculty endowments, and new research opportunities.
“As the region’s only R1 university, we have a responsibility to connect our students with real-world experiences and industry-leading partners,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber. “The Honeywell Innovation Hub will do just that, offering Niners access to advanced tools, collaborative spaces and opportunities that position them to make an immediate impact in their fields.”
The partnership comes shortly after UNC Charlotte’s designation as an R1 research institution, placing it among the top tier of U.S. universities for research activity. Gaber said the collaboration will advance use-inspired research in areas critical to both industry and society, including AI safety, grid resilience and smart infrastructure.
Honeywell Chairman and CEO Vimal Kapur said the initiative reflects the company’s long-term commitment to the Charlotte region and to STEM education.
“Our work with UNC Charlotte not only reflects Honeywell’s global commitment to STEM education that has reached millions of students over the past decade, but it also underscores our long-term focus on growing the innovation landscape,” Kapur said. “We will be here — not just for the tenure of making this building — but for many decades ahead, to enable students with best-in-class abilities through projects, mentorship and job opportunities.”
The Honeywell Innovation Hub will include project-based engineering labs, active learning classrooms, collaboration hubs and specialized research and simulation spaces. More than $1 million of Honeywell’s contribution will fund industry-grade technology across the complex, while Honeywell’s building automation technologies will ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently and securely.
The investment also funds a series of programs designed to reduce financial barriers and enhance experiential learning, including:
- STEM Scholarships: 48 Honeywell Scholar awards over the next decade to support high-achieving students in STEM fields.
- Capstone Projects: Annual senior engineering projects, connecting students with Honeywell engineers to tackle real-world challenges.
- Faculty Endowments: Four distinguished faculty positions — two in the William States Lee College of Engineering and two in the College of Computing and Informatics — plus additional research funding to support innovation and attract top faculty.
At the announcement event, Gaber and Kapur were joined by local business leaders and members of the campus community. They also recognized the inaugural class of Honeywell Scholars — six undergraduate students in engineering and computer science who will receive a combined $180,000 in scholarships.
