A group of Texas Engineering alumni smiling for photo during lab tour

Facilities

The McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering is located in the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (CPE) building. Our facilities include state-of-the-art research labs and wet labs, modernized undergraduate teaching labs, a machine shop to design and build a wide range of materials, a newly renovated student study lounge, student organization offices and meeting rooms, as well as undergraduate computer labs with industry-leading engineering software.

Quick Facts

  • Located in the heart of the engineering corridor on campus (at Dean Keeton St. and Speedway St.)
  • Opened in 1986; renovated in 2020-21 with crucial improvements to the building’s infrastructure
  • 226,000 gross square feet

Building Highlights

  • Two state-of-the-art undergraduate teaching labs totaling 4000 square feet
  • More than 12 undergraduate experiment stations providing hands-on experience and teaching skills used across a variety of chemical engineering related industries, highlights include:
    • Unit-operations Experiment Station with new process control equipment and a pilot-plant-sized distillation column
    • Fluidized Bed Experiment Station to reflect processes performed in the refinery industry
    • Pilot Plant Scale Distillation Column
    • Fluidized Bed
    • Super Sonic Gas Flow Experiment
    • Scalable Bio Reactor Experiment
    • Process Plant Simulator
    • Process Plant Simulator
  • Two undergraduate computer labs housing 50 computers, 5 printers and providing key collaborative space
  • A newly renovated McKetta Student Study Lounge with a free coffee bar
  • State of the art Gas Monitoring system to maintain a safe work environment in our research laboratories
  • Machine shop for students with cutting-edge technologies and capabilities:
    • CNC milling, plasma cutting, and waterjet capabilities
    • Manual mill and lathe
    • Welding
    • SLA 3-D printer
    • Electronics soldering work station
    • CAD modeling
  • Departmental classroom featuring lecture-capture technology.
  • State-of-the-art gas monitoring system tracking activity in our research labs to maintain a safe work environment
  • The CPE front lawn features a four-story tall “Clock Knot” sculpture, a recognized and celebrated landmark for the university