Columbus State University begins planning $22.2M joint robotics, space science facility

Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga. announced that following the state’s 2026 budget finalization, the academic higher learning institution will begin planning a $22.2 million center for advanced technologies - including robotics, engineering and space science - on its Main Campus.

According to the institution, the facility, which will serve as the new home for its Coca-Cola Space Science Center, marks a significant milestone in its history and reinforces its commitment to cutting-edge science, engineering and workforce development.

Facility will serve as a regional hub for robotics education, innovation

The approximately 36,000-square-foot building will be located parallel to Interstate 185 across the parking lot from the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center.

Columbus State said it will support the university’s rapidly growing robotics engineering program - which has expanded from just six students to more than 100 undergraduate and graduate majors in only a few years - and serve as a dynamic collaboration between Columbus State, the Muscogee County School District and other key regional partners.

“This is the first state-funded new academic building at Columbus State University in over 20 years,” said Stuart Rayfield, president of Columbus State University. “This will be a multi-use facility- a hub for advanced technology and a pipeline for cultivating technologically literate students from kindergarten through college.”

Columbus State said the building will provide:

• State-of-the-art instructional space and laboratories for Columbus State’s Robotics Engineering program.
• An expanded and modern home for the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, which houses numerous aerospace galleries, boasts more than 300 NASA artifacts and hosts more than 40,000 visitors annually.
• A regional hub for robotics education, testing and innovation.
• Space for local and regional robotics competitions, STEM programs and youth education that are hallmarks of the university’s longstanding STEM partnerships with the Muscogee County School District.
• Opportunities for research and STEM-focused partnerships, particularly with Fort Benning and other industry stakeholders.
• A direct response to local workforce needs in robotics, space science and advanced manufacturing.

“This building exemplifies this community’s commitment to partnerships and Columbus State University’s role in educating students who will advance the technological needs of our region,” said Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent of the MSCD school system. “I look forward to expanding our relationship with CSU, and our ability to inspire the next generation of tech-savvy students through this tremendous facility.”

The total project cost is estimated at $22.2 million. The state will provide $12.2 million, while the remaining $10 million will come from a combination of private donations to the university, a federal allocation to the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, and special-purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funds through the Muscogee County School District.

“As we look toward the economic future of the Chattahoochee Valley and the state of Georgia, fields like robotics, advanced manufacturing and space science will be key,” Rayfield said. “We are grateful to the governor, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and our legislative delegation for their confidence in what we’re building at Columbus State - and our role in meeting Georgia’s workforce needs.”