On September 16, 2010 a tornado struck the OARDC/OSU Wooster Campus. Severe damage to the Agricultural Engineering building resulted in the relocation of office operations to the (old) Administration building, where they were given space on the first and second floors. Additionally, three different spaces were rented within a two-mile radius of the campus for research activities: (1) shop fabrication area for OSU and ARS; (2) OSU fiber project and ARS sprayer research/wind tunnel; and (3) natural rubber pilot plant and testing. ARS engineers were also given lab space across the Wooster campus.
Planning for a new building began in earnest in 2011, and in June 2012 NBBJ architectural firm was hired. In December 2012, the design was completed and the old building was demolished. Ground breaking for new two-story building was held of Friday, May 10, 2013.
In addition to office space, the new building will have four laboratories with an open bench design, two pilot lab areas, a wind tunnel lab, and a shop area. Total assignable square footage will exceed 25,000. The building is designed to provide significant energy savings and natural lighting and will be LEED certified. The entire FABE department and OARDC look forward to the completion of construction and the Grand Opening of the building, slated for August or September of 2014.