Imagine your company innovating side-by-side with academic researchers and emerging engineering talent in a setting designed expressly for the rapid development and implementation of next-generation products and services. We refer to this as our Open Lab Environment. In this building, tenants have the closest proximity to student talent, particularly with the mechanical and industrial engineering departments which are based here. Industry partners and tenants leverage the student and faculty talent as well as specialty resources such as our FEG 650 Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope.

The focal point as you enter the building is a full-scale replica of the Liberty Bell donated to Penn State University to honor the university’s and the region’s history and commitment to metal casting. The Penn State Liberty Bell was cast for Foseco, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the American Foundrymen’s Society in 1996. It is an exact replica of the famous Liberty Bell (without the crack). It was cast by the West Philadelphia Bronze Company in Chester, Pennsylvania, using modern casting techniques developed by Foseco. Most recently, donations from the Yahn family and Gene Davis Sales – Steel Supply & Metal Fabrication enabled the bell to update its frame for its new location in the AMIC building.

The U.S. metalcasting industry is composed of more than 3000 foundries nationwide employing more than 200,000 persons. The Pennsylvania foundry industry includes more than 150 foundries employing 20,000 Pennsylvanians.