CMU to construct engineering building under ANSYS partnership

Carnegie Mellon University and ANSYS Inc. on Thursday announced a partnership and plans for a new building on CMU's campus in Oakland.

The university and Cecil-based engineering simulation software company said they hope the 30,000-square-foot building in the heart of the engineering campus will give students broader access to tools and space to work on projects ranging from electric Formula 1 race cars and solar-powered boats to innovative steel bridge designs and Elon Musk's hyperloop challenge, said Jim Garrett, dean of CMU's College of Engineering.

ANSYS, which has already made its simulation software available to students, will have staff members at the university to assist students and collaborate with them, said Jim Cashman, the company's CEO.

He said he hopes the collaboration puts simulation technology — typically reserved for graduate students who design and test products on a computer before building a prototype — in the hands of undergraduates.

Construction on the building could start this summer. The university wants to have it open by 2018. The building will be between Porter Hall and Hamerschlag Hall.

ANSYS gave the university a multimillion-dollar gift as part of the collaboration. Further details of the gift were not made public.

Cashman and Garrett announced the partnership at ANSYS's Investor Days meetings at the Pittsburgh International Airport Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Aaron Aupperlee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7986 or aaupperlee@tribweb.com.