WDD Architects in partnership with DLR Group | Tsoi Kobus Design are pleased to bring groundbreaking microchip research to our country and to the State of Arkansas – the National Multi-User Silicon Carbide Research and Fabrication Laboratory (MUSiC Fabrication Lab) at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. This intricate project was designed to support advanced research in silicon carbide (SiC), a critical material for next-generation energy, transportation, and semiconductor technologies. As one of the most advanced SiC research and prototyping environments in the nation, the MUSiC Lab brings together fabrication, testing, and collaboration within a single, purpose-built facility.
The new building is 1-story in height with a footprint area of 22,000 sf and houses eight clean rooms to support laboratory research and fabrication of semiconductors, offices, building support spaces, and core/shell space for future development. While the building itself is simple in form, the internal infrastructure is very complex.
The MUSiC Lab supports work across energy, transportation, data centers, and aerospace applications, providing researchers with the specialized environments required for fabrication and testing. The lab will also serve as a great opportunity for students at the University of Arkansas as well as researchers nationwide. As noted by the University of Arkansas, “By integrating fabrication, design and systems testing, it creates a rare educational pipeline preparing graduates for careers and research in power electronics, energy, and semiconductors. The facility’s open-access model welcomes academic, government, and private-sector collaborators, offering unique opportunities for prototyping, small-volume production and custom process development — all designed to accelerate innovation and workforce readiness.” With its advanced capabilities and open-access model, the project positions Arkansas as home to one of the nation’s leading silicon carbide research and prototyping environments. To learn more about the facility click here.
(Photo credit: @Russell Cothren)
IN THE NEWS:
Building Design & Construction Magazine – Nation’s first multi-user silicon carbide lab opens at Univ. of Arkansas | Building Design + Construction
Arkansas Money & Politics – WDD Behind State-of-the-Art Microchip Facility at UA – AMP
