University of Oklahoma officials will break ground on the Radar Innovations Lab — the only facility of its kind in the nation — at a public ceremony set for 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30, on OU’s Research Campus.

The Radar Innovations Lab, scheduled for completion in the fall 2013, is the eighth research facility to be built on the OU Research Campus in less than a decade, contributing to the overall success of the OU research enterprise, which is creating new jobs and growing the state’s economy.

“The new Radar Innovations Lab will keep OU on the leading edge of the development of radar technology and its interdisciplinary applications,” said OU President David L. Boren.

The 35,000-square-foot facility will encourage creative thinking and collaboration among faculty, students, and external partners with a goal of innovating the next-generation radar, microwave electronics and related technologies. The lab will serve both the research and educational missions of the University, providing a hands-on active learning environment for OU’s engineering and science students.

“The lab will be a destination showcase for researchers and the public—a facility for performing world-class research, educating the next generation, and demonstrating the practical value of both to the citizens of Oklahoma and the nation,” said Robert D. Palmer, Director of the OU Advanced Radar Research Center.

At least 60 students and 20 faculty from the Advanced Radar Research Center will be housed within the lab and have access to an expansive microwave laboratory that features a full suite of state-of-the-art test equipment, a high-bay garage for mobile radar trucks, prototype fabrication facilities, a machine shop, two precision echoless chambers, experimental observation deck, and a unique “Ideas Room” to foster collaboration and innovation.

Everyone in OU’s radar and related programs should feel a strong sense of ownership in the RIL--an environment that promotes a sense of belonging, encourages discussion and debate, and provides the tools to achieve tangible outcomes. Consequently, the RIL will be governed by those who use it and are best positioned to determine its operation and future directions.

The RIL will be located just east of the National Weather Center on the OU Research Campus. Groundbreaking ceremonies are scheduled for October 30 at 1:30 pm. For more information about the RIL, contact the ARRC Director Robert Palmer at rpalmer@ou.edu or on the web at http://arrc.ou.edu.