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New Monument Sign Lights Up RDC
Gateway to Discovery
Central Lobby Readies for Spring Opening
Workers install a new illuminated monument sign identifying the Research and Demonstration Complex at Central State University in October 2025; the sign marks the building’s public entrance and helps orient visitors to the campus research hub
Interior crews finish work in the central lobby of the Research Facility, which will open in Spring 2026 as a staffed reception and wayfinding hub with flexible seating, exhibit space for campus research and community displays, digital signage, and secure access to adjacent research offices and the shared core lab.
Technicians ready Core Lab 146 inside the Research and Demonstration Complex, a shared core facility slated to open in Spring 2026 that will house specialized instrumentation, support research teams across disciplines, and be staffed by lab managers and research personnel to coordinate equipment use and training. Together, President Kuti and his team are shaping a future where CSU’s RDC stands as a hub of innovation, partnership and progress. With each milestone, the illuminated monument sign outside the complex becomes more than a marker. It is a symbol of CSU’s enduring commitment to excellence.
The Storage Facility is scheduled to be completed in summer 2026, while a shared core lab, several research personnel offices and the lobby in the Research Facility will be operational in spring 2026. Three proposed upcoming phases for the Research Facility were approved by the Board of Trustees on November 7. These phases include construction of a food safety lab, purchase and installation of lab equipment and lobby and office furniture, and construction of a molecular biology lab and a precision agriculture lab, along with completion of the high-bay garage. While construction has proceeded smoothly, Toledo acknowledged the inherent challenges of this large-scale and multitier project. “The process is never quick enough,” he said. “But each step forward reflects our resilience and determination to build the infrastructure that will serve generations of students and communities.” For President Kuti, the RDC is part of a broader legacy. “As an 1890 Land-Grant institution, CSU has a responsibility to lead in research, extension and teaching,” he said. “The RDC ensures that our students are not only prepared academically but
also positioned to innovate, create businesses and strengthen the workforce.”
“The RDC is not just about buildings. It is about creating opportunities for students, faculty and communities to engage in cutting-edge research and technology transfer. Our Land-Grant mission demands that we serve, anda this complex ensures we do so with impact.”
A fresh perspective on progress shows the RDC lobby taking shape with spring sunlight streaming in, ready in spring 2026.
-President Kuti
From blueprint to backbone, the RDC steel frame stood tall in February 2024.
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