Facilities
The Computing Commons and EECS Computer Labs
The EECS department provides its students with more than 500 computers in thirteen laboratories. EECS computers run either Windows or Linux operating systems with powerful engineering specific software tools including MATLAB, CADence, and Xilinx packages. The Computing Commons, on the first floor of Eaton Hall, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
EECS Hardware Labs
Nine state-of-the-art laboratories provide students with experience in building, programming, testing, and debugging digital circuits, processors, and FPGA-based systems. A range of PC-based development platforms and instrumentation, such as spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes and signal generators, are available at each workstation. Workstations support hardware design languages and programmable logic implementation. EECS students may checkout testing kits, tools, and other equipment from the EECS Shop.
The EECS Shop
Experienced EECS Shop attendants assist students in safely learning the art of engineering. The Shop houses advanced equipment including etching, drill, and SMD soldering stations. In-house milling ensures a quick turn-around of precise, reliable, and cost-effective fabricated boards for student projects. EECS students may checkout testing kits, tools, and other equipment from the shop. Shop personnel are happy to help students learn how to operate different machines or answer questions about equipment.
Research Facilities
EECS students and faculty work on multi-million dollar interdisciplinary research project at state-of-the-art research facilities including, the Center for the Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS), a NSF Science and Technology Center, and the Insitute for Information Sciences (I2S).
Eaton Hall
Eaton Hall was opened in fall 2003 and houses the administrative offices of the School of Engineering, as well as the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Engineering Career Center. The 80,000 square-foot building — named for Robert Eaton, a 1963 mechanical engineering alumnus and chairman emeritus of DaimlerChrysler AG — also houses several computer classrooms, laboratories, the Self Computing Commons and the state-of-the-art Spahr Engineering Classroom.
Nichols Hall
This facility on west campus houses numerous research labs affiliated with the School of Engineering, including the Information and Telecommunication Technology Center (I2S) and the NSF Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS). The $2.4 million hall, designed by Hollis & Miller of Overland Park, opened in fall 1971 and was dedicated Sept. 29, 1972. It's design captures a space-age feel of the late '60s and early '70s and includes and features a central elevator and staircase that many may conclude served as inspiration for the main reactor in the first Star Wars movie. It was named for Raymond F. Nichols (1903-1999) KU's 12th chancellor.