Contact Us
To be a part of the Lyle School of Engineering’s vision for innovation, contact us at lylegiving@smu.edu or 214-768-4136.

Academic Programs and Centers

Engineering Leadership

The Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering is committed to developing the new American engineer, one prepared to excel and lead in creating new economic opportunities while addressing the most difficult challenges facing society. The school recognizes the vital need to strengthen our nation's educational system, specifically in the areas of engineering, science, math and technology.

Housed in the new Caruth Hall, the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education will deliver the creative engineering curricula and programs necessary for grade school students through working engineers to compete and lead.

To be a part of the SMU Lyle School of Engineering's vision for innovation, contact lylegiving@smu.edu or 214-768-4136.

Through a generous lead gift from the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation of Communities Foundation of Texas, the new Caruth Hall will offer more than 64,000 square feet of space for teaching, research and innovation, nearly doubling the size of the previous facility bearing its name. It will house the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education, as well as the Engineering Management, Information and Systems (EMIS) and Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) departments. The building also will be home to a number of exciting institutes and centers, allowing faculty, staff and students to relentlessly pursue solutions to complex problems.

Unique Features

Constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standards, the building's environmentally conscious design features will include:

• Systems that use 30 percent less energy and 50 percent less water
• Exceptionally high indoor air quality
• Extensive use of recycled material from regional sources

Palmer Engineering Leadership Complex

Comprising nearly half of the building, this complex will house:

• The Center for Engineering Leadership, focusing on developing strong, creative leaders for the high-tech economy.
• A student advising center.
• The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® Lab in the Innovation Gym. SMU is the first university in the nation to create and host such a facility.
• A modern conference center with views of the Dallas skyline.

Hillcrest Foundation Amphitheater

Expansive exterior space for public gatherings, presentations and competitions.

Innovation Gymnasium

The Innovation Gym will house the Skunk Works® Lab, modeled after the iconic and top-secret research lab created by Lockheed Martin. The glass-walled, open-view design space will employ, utilize and teach the most sophisticated approaches for creatively solving real and complex problems.

Grand Atrium

The main entry to Caruth Hall will lead students, faculty and guests into the Grand Atrium, serving as a key intersection for idea exchange and interaction.

Vester Hughes Auditorium

A 146-seat auditorium will provide special event space for experiential learning. Students and faculty will interact with industry experts and other guests while discussing topics that have local, national and global impact, preparing them for long-term success.