Courtesy of Beth Miller

An illustration shows the prospective locations of two new engineering school buildings. The University has received a naming donation for one of the buildings but has not announced a groundbreaking date for either building.

The two academic buildings will occupy the current Engineering School parking lot where ThurtenE Carnival is held each spring. The first of the two, to be named Henry A. & Elvira H. Jubel Hall, will house the departments of mechanical engineering and materials science.

Don Jubel, who earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University in 1973, has served as CEO of Spartan Light Metal Products, his father Henry’s company, for more than a decade. Once the University secures enough funding to start construction, the building will be named after his father, who graduated from Washington University in 1940, and his mother Elvira.

Jubel Hall will allow the mechanical engineering department to grow its faculty and research capacity significantly, according to Ken Jerina, associate chair of mechanical engineering.

“When we hire new faculty, finding space for their offices and laboratories involves remodeling older space in our current building,” Jerina said. “Having new laboratory space for research is going to allow us to expand…[and] enhance opportunities for students to get involved in research.”

“Everybody loves new space,” he added. “We’re really grateful.”

The new buildings will ultimately displace ThurtenE Carnival, which has been held in the parking lot past Brookings Hall for the last few years. Over the past decade, the nation’s oldest student-run carnival has moved back and forth between its current location and the parking lot outside the Athletic Complex because of construction on either side of campus.

Former public relations chair for ThurtenE Dara Baker, a senior, said that while holding the fair in front of Brookings has offered it great visibility, having to move should not pose any major concern. Baker said they have been talking with administrators about ultimately moving the carnival for about a year but have yet to come to a decision.

“It’s been going on for over 100 years, and it will continue to go on—and we’re excited about it either way,” Baker said.

Students said they look forward to the additional educational facilities.

“It’ll be nice to have the whole engineering school connected in one area rather than spread out between the newer buildings and the older buildings,” Olivia Brown, a senior in the School of Engineering & Applied Science said.

With reporting by Manvitha Marni, Becky Prager and Michael Tabb.