STEM Innovation Learning Center

The STEM Innovation Learning Center (SILC) is a signature component of Wayne State University's vision for STEM education through multi-disciplinary learning and community engagement that will expand WSU's vision for inclusive innovation across campus. Built with emphasis on technology-rich, collaboration, and "science-on-display" spaces, SILC brings a centralized STEM-focused academic facility to the heart of WSU's campus – within steps of chemistry, biology, engineering, and physics buildings, as well as the iconic learning spaces of Science Hall and Old Main. The building — which includes almost 100,000 square feet of flexible classrooms, instructional labs, a maker space, and a 3D printing lab, as well as space that serves as a hub for K-12 outreach programming — is helping to transform WSU's vision for STEM education and research for current and future Warriors.

Check out Warrior K-12 FUTURES at Wayne State University!

Highlights

Flexible classrooms

Flexible and convertible classrooms conducive to hands-on, real life, team, and project-based learning.
Teaching labs

Instructional wet and dry laboratories rich with modern equipment and furnishings to inspire the next generation of researchers, inventors, and critical thinkers.
Collaboration zones

Places were students come together in small working groups. Collab Zones have built-in whiteboards, projection screens, and furniture that can be configured to support engaged, inclusive collaboration.
Touchdown spaces

SILC offers ‘privacy-on-demand’ with 14 mini-offices called Touchdown spaces located throughout the building to promote connections like discreet discussions, virtual classes, or small group projects. Visit: Ems Web App to reserve a Touchdown space, or for new users contact Jessica Beesley at ag4027@wayne.edu to request an account.
WK-12 co-working lab

Dedicated co-working space for WSU Warrior K-12 program creators and hosts, making room for transformational innovation in developing the next generation of Warriors for Wayne State University and beyond.
Maker space & hacker space

Maker Space and Hacker Space innovation labs will give students interdisciplinary exposure to skill set development made especially possible in SILC high-tech, high-touch instructional settings. Spaces will include virtual and augmented reality development tools and 3D printing lab.
STEM Commons

STEM Commons – the open and welcoming learning, tutoring, and collaboration space specifically for STEM students that recognizes the unique, group working style that supports many STEM courses – will return to a new, invigorated space on the 1st floor of the SILC. Learn more about STEM Commons here.

Frequently asked questions

What are the building hours of operation?

The Fall 2022 hours for STEM Innovation Learning Center are as follows:

Mondays 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesdays 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fridays 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays CLOSED
Sundays CLOSED

Classes and events may take place outside of these hours.

Is SILC open to the general public?

We are underway with classes scheduled at SILC, some are STEM disciplines and some are not. Everyone is encouraged to visit SILC, even if you have no classes in the building. There are many meeting rooms, collaboration zones with monitors, interactive vinyl white board walls, flexible furniture making studying optimally comfortable, and other spaces suitable for students, faculty and staff to work as teams, to attend a virtual class alone, or meet with instructors for office hours, and more.

What are the covid safety precautions?

Currently, like all facilities on campus, we are following all protocols for the university COVID plan, which can be found at wayne.edu/coronavirus. As the university updates its campus restart plan, SILC, along with all other teaching and learning spaces, will proceed accordingly to help keep the campus and community safe.

What type of classes are scheduled in the building?

SILC is a place of interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary learning and hosts a deliberate mix of STEM and STEM-related courses that engage in ‘science and society’ topics. This includes classes such as Basic Engineering, Biomedical Technology & Molecular Biology, Organic Chemistry, Public Health, Quantum Computing, Art Industrial Design, Shakespeare, Kinetics & Reactor Design, and Descriptive Astronomy - to name a few.

How can instructors hold their classes at SILC?

SILC Lab classrooms are departmentally assigned, and those classes are scheduled by each departmental Scheduling Coordinator through the WISE system in Academica. For help with this, please contact the Scheduling team at scheduling@wayne.edu or by calling 313-577-3500.
SILC General Purpose classrooms are open for class scheduling on a first-come basis each term, and is not solely reserved for STEM disciplines. Scheduling Coordinators can make requests through the WISE system in Academica, to conduct classes in the 10 general purpose classrooms at STEM.

How can I reserve one of the Touchdown spaces?

SILC Touchdown spaces offer ‘privacy-on-demand’, with 14 mini-offices located throughout the building, from the first floor to the seventh floor, promoting connections like discreet discussions, virtual classes, or small group projects.

Go to the Ems Web App to reserve a Touchdown space.

If you are a current Wayne State University student, staff or faculty and this is your first time logging in, please contact Jessica Beesley via e-mail at ag4027@wayne.edu and an account will be created for you.

How do I reserve a room for a meeting or event?

Together with the Office of the Registrar and the Division of Computing and Information Technology, we are excited to announce the formation of the Campus Reservations in the Office of Student Center and Campus Events. Our team now manages reservations for a set number of general purpose classroom buildings, including in the STEM Innovation Learning Center.

To reserve a general purpose classroom, visit: https://studentcenter.wayne.edu/reservations/gpc.

To reserve the 7th Floor, visit the EMS WebApp and select the "Reserve the STEM 7th Floor - Multipurpose Space".

How can I obtain after-hours access to SILC?

WSU faculty and staff may obtain after-hours access to enter SILC outside of business hours, and this access is granted by the building coordinator.

Faculty and staff may make this request by completing the after-hours access to STEM form.

STEM Innovation STEM Innovation Learning Center

STEM Innovation Learning Center

Vision

News

Innovative learning spaces

Highlights

Flexible classrooms

Teaching labs

Collaboration zones

Touchdown spaces

WK-12 co-working lab

Maker space & hacker space

STEM Commons

Virtual Tour

Frequently asked questions