Schoenecker Center
Liberal Arts Brought to Life
The Schoenecker Center is the university's central home for STEAM education at St. Thomas. We believe it is a national model for bolder, more collaborative learning.
At St. Thomas, we prepare tomorrow's leaders to work with people from other fields and disciplines. The Schoenecker Center fuels innovation and provides a home for powerful training in these critical skills for our students.
What is STEAM education?
STEAM education describes the exciting connections among science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. Employers tell us they are looking for graduates who can collaborate across these disciplines and solve problems with creative solutions. The Schoenecker Center fuels this kind of learning.
Many of the jobs our graduates will seek over the next 20 years don't exist yet. That is one reason why St. Thomas puts an emphasis on experiential learning and interdisciplinary experiences, to help students learn to be nimble and flexible as they seek jobs in the future.
What is the Schoenecker Center?
The Overview
The Schoenecker Center is a first-of-its-kind space that brings together the arts, sciences, engineering and innovation in one integrated facility. This striking transformation of Summit Avenue and south campus is the new academic center for the university.
What's Inside?
- Iversen High Bay
- Dr. Bernice Folz Science and Engineering Collaboration Hub
- Emerging Media Newsroom
- Ruth and Henry Nachtsheim Chemistry Suite
- John P. Monahan Gallery
- Sarah Rose Instrumental Rehearsal Hall
- Choral Performance Hall
- Henry and Angelena Blattner Robotics Lab
- Flexible spaces for collaboration and group work
- Cafe and community areas
Engineering
Nearly 60,000 square feet of new space transforms how the School of Engineering collaborates with campus partners and educates engineering students. There are increased opportunities for course offerings and more room for experiments in areas such as sustainability, robotics and energy.
Everyone can watch what's happening in the new Iversen High Bay. Students use this area for large-scale experimental research, student demonstrations that supplement lecture content and student engineering design competitions.
Arts and Sciences
We're putting collaboration and creative thinking on full display through an open design concept that creates natural opportunities for artists, scientists and everyone in-between to come together for the common good.
The College of Arts and Sciences has always prepared students for what’s next through hands-on education, mentorship and an array of collaborative opportunities. This mission rises to new heights in the Schoenecker Center.
A Look Inside
Take a tour of the Schoenecker Center and learn more about the new spaces and unique learning opportunities.
Sarah Rose Instrumental Rehearsal Hall
The two-level instrumental rehearsal space is uniquely designed to be viewed from inside the building up above on the main level and outside from Summit Avenue through large windows.
Iversen High Bay
The new Iversen High Bay is where big things get bent, broken and made. With open access to the atrium, this space is a working laboratory for engineers to hone their craft and for all to view and learn from this exciting work.
John P. Monahan Gallery
The new art gallery features rotating displays highlighting works by artists from the United States.
Emerging Media Newsroom
The emerging media newsroom and 21st-century classrooms will be visible from multiple floors and provide the space needed for future journalists.
Choral Performance Hall
The choral performance space will serve student musicians for practices and performances. The flexible design allows students and community partners to repurpose the space for things like robotics team presentations and guest speakers.
Dr. Bernice Folz Science and Engineering Collaboration Hub
Lab space and open classrooms support growth in the sciences and help students integrate their work across disciplines.
Meet the Donors
Guy and Barbara Schoenecker are well-known names at St. Thomas. Their family's philanthropic impact on campus led to the establishment of many scholarships and supported construction of important and transformative spaces on campus, including the new Schoenecker Center. This latest gift is truly befitting of an entrepreneur who felt the best ideas came from working collaboratively with a diverse group of people.