Project Highlight
Building Wellness: University Launches New Construction Project
In December 2025, Michigan Tech Board of Trustees approved construction of the Chang K. Park Center for Student Wellness. A $55 million dollar gift from Chang K. Park will fully fund project. The 90,000 square foot facility will be located between the Memorial Union and Administration buildings. The Center will support the four pillars of Michigan Tech's Be Well Initiative: Live Well, Play Well, Connect Well, and Recharge Well. The Center will advance student emotional, physical and mental health, with dedicated space for instructional areas, a fitness center, locker rooms, group training rooms, a medical clinic, outreach and prevention offices, and accessible wellness amenities throughout. Design planning is currently underway with construction slated to begin in the spring, and opening planned for the fall of 2028. To learn more about this project, visit MTU's wellness page.
Success Stories
H-STEM Complex Generates Solar Power
The new H-STEM Building has three solar arrays installed on its roof and sidewall. It is one of two buildings on campus with solar panels, the first being the Sustainability Demonstration House, which is a much smaller system. The H-STEM solar system was started up in late March of 2024, and has been producing a significant part of the facility's electrical demand. In the Summer months, the solar arrays produce approximately 10 Megawatt Hours of power monthly, and in the Winter, about 4 Megawatt Hours monthly. This is equivalent to powering 3-7 residential homes entirely by the sun. Or, you could charge about 500,000 smartphones a month!
The solar panels are mounted vertically on the mechanical penthouse on the roof of the H-STEM Building, as well as mounted on the roof at a 10 degree angle that approximates the optimal year-round position. If you look up at the roof of the H-STEM Building on the east side, you can see the vertically mounted panels, along with the Michigan Tech Husky logo.
Michigan Tech is working to utilize renewable energy sources and build sustainable facilities like the H-STEM Building, which is LEED Certified.
