Transportation Research Center opens collaborative conference and learning facility

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Dean David Williams (center) at the October 5 ribbon cutting with Ohio State, TRC and community leaders.

On Thursday, Ohio State officials, state and local leaders and automotive industry guests celebrated the opening of Transportation Research Center’s new 15,240-square-foot James A. Rhodes Conference Center. The new building is named in honor of the late Ohio Governor, whose vision led to the construction of the nation’s preeminent vehicle testing and proving grounds during his tenure.

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The new building includes a 586-person conference space, as well as an executive meeting room for smaller groups. The College of Engineering, which originally established TRC in 1962 and continues to oversee operations, will have dedicated office space in Rhodes Conference Center for faculty, staff and students, and laboratory space for bench-level projects. The new building also features a distance education learning lab enabling students, faculty and TRC clients to connect with classrooms and labs on Ohio State’s main campus, including the Center for Automotive Research.

Ohio State researchers enjoy full access to TRC vehicle laboratories and track time at the 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week facility in East Liberty.

Logan, Union, and Champaign county Regional Planning Committee (LUC RPC) offices also are located in the Rhodes Conference Center.