WPI Innovation Studio and Messenger Residence Hall

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a pioneer in interdisciplinary project-based learning, dating back to a framework first established in 1970 as the “WPI Plan.” While progressive in expanding the traditional engineering education to include social and global perspectives, the pedagogy lacked a physical home on campus. The Innovation Studio and Messenger Residence Hall creates a rich environment for diverse student teams to problem solve and innovate in a live-learn community. The ambitious facility includes a makerspace, rapid prototyping suite, robotics lab, active learning classrooms, innovation and entrepreneurship center, video studio, and a range of collaborative venues for creating and sharing research between faculty, students, and external partners. The result is a state-of-the-art-facility where WPI’s distinctive project-based approach comes to life.