University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) officials and students dedicated the new Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Center (AMAC) at last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. The research and education facility will advance discovery and drive innovation on campus.
Moon habitation, space robotics, and exotic-material 3D printing are just a few technologies that will be developed in the $80 million facility.
Speaking at the event, UTEP President Heather Wilson said the university was grateful for the investment from the UT System and the Board of Regents.
AMAC is one of the many long-term investments in UTEP and El Paso. UTEP is a national leader in aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing.
This new building is a tiny part of UT System’s commitment to UTEP excellence and growing El Paso’s role in the advanced manufacturing and aerospace industries.
UTEP is a critical partner in providing the research innovation and top-tier engineering workforce needed to develop El Paso’s economic frontiers.
The 29 laboratories housed in the building will enable faculty and students to advance discovery and drive innovation that contributes to national defense and economic growth.
The AMAC building will house UTEP’s Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, both of UTEP’s College of Engineering. The Keck Center contains one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of additive manufacturing equipment in an academic setting, with more than 70 advanced 3D printers.
The Keck Center has ongoing research and development projects with over 100 industry partners and 10 federal agencies, including the Army and Air Force Research Labs, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin.
The Aerospace Center has conducted pioneering research with NASA, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other agencies in areas like propulsion, uncrewed aerial vehicles, spacecraft design, and the fusion of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced materials science to accelerate discoveries for space, defense, and industry.
Through a focus on undergraduate research, many UTEP students trained at the Keck and Aerospace Centers have gone on to successful careers at leading companies like Boeing, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.
The UT System Board of Regents funded the AMAC building, and construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in the fall of 2022.
The building was designed by the architectural firm Treanor and built by Sundt Construction in collaboration with UTEP’s Planning and Construction Department. Fifty UTEP alumni were among the more than 1,000 people involved in the construction effort.
The future is launching at UTEP! Today, we celebrated the grand opening of the Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Center, the new home of the Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center. These two research centers will work to advance America’s goals in aerospace and defense. pic.twitter.com/4239FtvY0M
— UTEP (@UTEP) April 11, 2025
UTEP, the community and @utsystem leaders celebrated the new Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Center today, where researchers will advance discovery and drive innovation. 🚀⚙️ Learn more: https://t.co/40XXIS8Ccg@jbmilliken@UTEPPresident@UTEPAerospace@utepkeckcenter pic.twitter.com/xF8VSOV2Iy
— UTEP (@UTEP) April 11, 2025
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