Cal State Northridge Opens Autodesk Technology Engagement Center

Autodesk joined students, faculty, partners, and members of Congress at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) to cut the ribbon on the new Autodesk Technology Engagement Center (ATEC)—a campus hub designed for students and the community advance in Design and Make careers.

The two-story, 32,000-sq.-ft. space will train students and the community in artificial intelligence for social good, making it one of reportedly few campuses in the United States to blend hands-on STEM and AI skills training with interdisciplinary learning.

In late August, CSUN and Autodesk leaders and members of the greater community met with Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) and former Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) for the ATEC ribbon cutting. Complemeted with $7 million in Autodesk financial support, Rivas and Cárdenas, along with US Sen. Alex Padilla, helped secure $25 million in state funds for the ATEC.

CSUN is reportedly among the top five in the country for graduating underrepresented students in STEM. The ATEC will allow students to gain access to tools, mentors, and hands-on training.

“Autodesk is proud to have supported the first and last mile of funding and Autodesk is proud to support the mission of ATEC—a mission to not only enhance the quality of engineering education at CSUN, but to also engage the community the university serves, so young minds in that community can pursue technical careers, careers that will better their lives and the lives of others. We’re absolutely proud to be part of that vision. I’m proud that I came back here and hoped we could do more, but let’s not forget, nor fail,” says Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk CEO and CSUN alumnus.

The ATEC will bring together programs from the College of Engineering & Computer Science, plus STEAM and innovation programs that reach local K-12 schools.

It will also be home to the Global Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Innovation Hub created to open more equitable pathways into education and technology across the CSU system. 

Inside, students will find six labs, from AI and AR/VR to advanced manufacturing and the High Bay Structural Lab, a place where students can test critical infrastructure projects like earthquake resiliency.

In related news, Autodesk CEO Anagnost, recently donated $20 million to the university. In honor of his contribution to his alma mater, at the request of CSUN President Erika D. Beck, the California State University Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the university’s engineering college. The college is now known as the Andrew J. Anagnost College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Andrew J. Anagnost, president and CEO of Autodesk, Inc., one of the world’s leading Design and Make technology companies, demonstrated just how much being a Matador meant to him by donating $20 million to the university that helped transform his studies, life and career — making him the single largest alumni donor in the university’s history.

In recognition of Anagnost’s commitment to his alma mater, at the request of CSUN President Erika D. Beck, the California State University Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the university’s engineering college in his honor. The college is now known as the Andrew J. Anagnost College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.