Where Innovation Comes to Life

CCEE’s research centers and laboratories are built to move ideas into action. Located on Centennial Campus and at key sites across North Carolina’s coast and beyond, these spaces allow students and faculty to test, model, simulate and validate solutions under real-world conditions—often at full scale.

They’re more than labs. They’re collaborative hubs where students, faculty and partners work side by side, bringing together multi-university teams, industry leaders and public agencies to solve the challenges shaping our infrastructure, environment and communities.

From advanced materials and structural testing to water quality, transportation systems and coastal resilience, these facilities make engineering tangible—turning curiosity into capability and ideas into impact.

Fitts-Woolard Hall

Fitts-Woolard Hall is a central hub for engineering at NC State’s Centennial Campus, bringing together students, faculty and industry in one collaborative environment. Opened in 2020, the 225,000-square-foot facility supports more than 1,500 students and 170+ faculty and staff, creating a dynamic space where disciplines connect and ideas move quickly from concept to application.

Designed for how engineers work today, the building features flexible labs, modern classrooms and open workspaces, with transparent labs and exposed systems that turn the facility itself into a living teaching tool. The result is a place where innovation is visible, hands-on and constantly in motion—advancing real-world solutions across engineering and the built environment.

Additional Centers and Facilities

High-Performance Computing Laboratory (HPCL)

Advanced computing powers modern engineering. The HPCL supports complex modeling, simulation and data analysis with high-performance clusters and nearly 1,000 processing cores, enabling researchers to tackle large-scale problems in systems, materials and infrastructure.

Center for Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI)

This multi-university research center advances next-generation composite materials that strengthen and extend the life of critical infrastructure. In close collaboration with industry and infrastructure owners, CICI accelerates the adoption of durable, resilient construction solutions.

Center for Nuclear Energy Facilities and Structures (CNEFS)

Focused on safety and performance in nuclear systems, CNEFS is where innovative, research-driven solutions are developed to improve reliability, reduce uncertainty and lower operational costs for nuclear facilities.

Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)

A trusted partner to transportation agencies, CTE brings together researchers and practitioners to address complex infrastructure and policy challenges—improving mobility while preserving environmental integrity.

Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE)

ITRE connects research, education and practice across North Carolina and beyond, advancing surface, air and water transportation systems while providing training and collaboration opportunities for professionals statewide and globally.

Constructed Facilities Laboratory (CFL)

One of the nation’s premier large-scale testing facilities, the CFL enables researchers to evaluate full-scale structural systems under real-world conditions. This 20,000-square-foot complex supports industry partnerships and is accredited for advanced structural testing.

Natural Hazards Mapping Program Lab

This lab applies GIS, geospatial tools and advanced modeling to better understand coastal hazards, sea level rise and extreme weather—developing strategies that strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities. Learn more about the NCSU-Kenan Natural Hazards Mapping Program.

Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI)

WRRI leads statewide efforts to protect and manage water resources, connecting researchers, agencies and communities through applied research, funding programs and outreach initiatives across North Carolina.

UNC Coastal Studies Institute

Located on the Outer Banks, this interdisciplinary institute expands CCEE’s reach to the coast—supporting research, education and community engagement focused on coastal systems, environments and resilience.