Events

Kohler Co., a global leader in the innovation and manufacture of plumbing products; tile, cabinetry and lighting; and engines, generators and clean energy solutions, today celebrated the grand opening of the new Kohler Innovation Center at the University of Illinois Research Park. The new center is a reflection of the company’s objective of positively impacting current and future generations through design, craftsmanship, and innovation. The center’s portfolio focuses on areas of interest to Kohler including supply chain optimization strategies; investigating and adapting technology for the factory of the future; and developing a pipeline of engineering and data analytics talent for the company tapped from its student intern program.   “Our partnership with the University of Illinois is a win for Kohler, the university, and students. We are excited about this new facility and the future possibilities of our collaboration,” said Norb Schmidt, Senior Vice President of Kitchen & Bath Operations for Kohler.  “Our commitment here is a genuine investment in our [Kohler’s] future, added Schmidt. Specifically, Kohler’s Research Park location supports research and design efforts related to robotics, electro-mechanical systems, machining, and pneumatic and hydraulic functions. “The Kohler Innovation Center at UIRP provides our students the opportunity to work on solutions for the Midwest and beyond,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Such real-world experiences are examples of the transformative educational opportunities at Illinois that grow from our leadership in engineering, data science, and industrial design.”   The center is hiring several positions and eventually plans to employ up to 25 students. A full-time site manager, Will Newton, supervises the students and serves as liaison between the Kohler Innovation Center at UIRP and the University of Illinois.  Initiatives to cultivate a culture of innovation, including the new campus innovation center at Illinois, supports why Kohler Co. recently landed as a finalist on the Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators list. Download the full press release here. About Kohler Co. For 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in design and innovation, dedicated to providing gracious living through kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile and lighting; distributed energy solutions – home energy, industrial power systems, and powertrain technologies – and luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf. Kohler’s Whistling Straits golf course hosted the 43rd Ryder Cup in 2021. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops solutions to address pressing issues, such as clean water and sanitation, for underserved communities around the world to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.Learn more at kohlercompany.com.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2023, officials gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new greenhouse that will support CABBI  research at the construction site located at 1902 South Fourth Street on the Research Park campus. CABBI is a $252.5M U.S. Department of Energy-funded Bioenergy Research Center.  It aims to provide the scientific discoveries and new technologies to develop an economically viable and ecologically sustainable domestic biofuel and bioproducts industry from dedicated bioenergy crops.  The greenhouse was designed with energy efficiency at the forefront and will create research and teaching opportunities for faculty and students across three colleges, including: the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), the Grainger College of Engineering, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). The planned structure will feature a solar panel array, a plant phenotyping facility, and walk-in growth rooms, plus room for potential future expansion. “It will benefit an incredibly diverse group of people — from experts in gene editing and plant physiology to artificial intelligence and crop breeding — as they work together to develop a profitable and sustainable future for agriculture in Illinois and the Midwest,” said CABBI director Andrew Leakey. Undergraduates will also benefit through CABBI’s Research Internship in Sustainable Bioenergy (RISE), targeted at students from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM fields, Leakey added. Remarks at the ceremonial groundbreaking were given by Leaky, Susan Martinis (Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation), and Laura Appenzeller (University of Illinois Research Park Executive Director). The state-of-the-art greenhouse is expected to be completed by summer 2024.

After a successful summer of softball games, StateFarm won the championship game against Natrion onMonday, July 31, 2023. The game was tied 10–10 inregulation, but after a Slugfest off a tee, State Farmemerged victorious. Littelfuse finished in third place. “One of the many things I look forward to each yearis our Summer Research Softball League. Theplanning, time and dedication put into the league fromall who are involved is amazing.” – Kelly Buchanan-Ford, State Farm Ford’s team’s goals for the summer league were for the interns to bond, have fun outside of the workplace and get to know other companies within the Research Park. She said, “There is nothing better than seeing those relationships [being] built time and time again… because of the impact our softball league brings to our students and staff.” The 2023 Research Park Softball League started on June 5 and featured 16 teams, playing every Monday night. John Deere Senior Software Engineer James Kabbes served as League Commissioner for the second year in a row. Buchanan–Ford and State Farm Oversight Lead Heather Park and had a blastwith the interns at every game, including the championship. “Being a part of the championship game was an amazing time for everyone. It was a really hard–played, intense at times, ball–hitting tiebreaker of a game. In the end though, it wasn’t about the win. It has always just been about the people we have met along the way.” – Kelly Buchanan-Ford, State Farm Participants included teams from: