Admissions
HW Hub Tour
MVNU transformed a downtown Mount Vernon building at 18 E. Vine St. into a state-of-the-art academic hub for students in engineering and computer science programs. The project brought new life to the lower floor of the building and relocated the Computer Science program into a new shared space with MVNU’s Engineering programs.
The completely renovated academic space is accessed through Blackberry Alley, steps away from the Stephen W. Nease Center, home of the engineering programs.
The HW Hub is considered an expansion of the Nease Center providing substantial growth of the current academic facilities, including a:
- Cyber security lab,
- Virtual reality lab,
- Embedded systems research lab,
- Computing and networking lab, and
- Mechanical engineering lab.
The shared facility provides a synergistic setting for intentional collaboration between two academic departments which are poised for growth.
Naming of the HW Hub
The HW Hub was named to honor the memory of Hunter N. Wright, president of Ariel Corporation, who passed away in 2021 following a valiant battle with cancer.
Hunter served on MVNU’s Engineering Industrial Advisory Board, guiding program development and assessment. Remembered for his joy in bringing people together, this gift honors his legacy by creating a collaborative, hands-on space where students in engineering and computer science can explore opportunities and develop real-world solutions.
The HW Hub is the model of community partnership made possible through a generous grant from The Ariel Foundation and the revitalization efforts of the Knox County Land Bank.
