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September 5, 2025Opening the Autodesk Technology Engagement Center at California State University, Northridge: A new era for skills training
Autodesk joined students, faculty, partners, and members of Congress at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) to cut the ribbon on the new Autodesk Technology Engagement Center (ATEC)—a campus hub designed to empower students and the community to thrive in Design and Make careers.
The two-story, 32,000-square-foot space will train students and the surrounding community in AI for social good, making it one of the only campuses in the nation to combine hands-on STEM and AI skills training with interdisciplinary learning, all under one roof.
CSUN Foundation board members, Autodesk leadership, CSUN leadership, and government officials gather on August 22nd to officially open the ATEC’s doors (Ringo Chiu).
The grand opening of a transformative hub
On Friday, August 22nd, CSUN and Autodesk leaders along with community members were joined by Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) and former Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) for the official ribbon cutting of the ATEC. Along with more than $7 million in support from Autodesk, Rivas and Cárdenas, along with US Sen. Alex Padilla, helped secure $25 million in state funds to bring the ATEC to life.
The community got a glimpse of what students will be building here:
- In the Digital Capture Lab, Autodesk ambassador and CSUN lecturer Elliott Sadler brought the future to life with a Tandem Digital Twin activation, complete with a short video reel.
- In the maker space, student peer mentors demonstrated GlowForge laser cutting, producing custom CSUN logo bookmarks as part of the “Imagine It. Design It. Make It.” showcase.
- And in the Additive Manufacturing and Reverse Engineering Lab, Professor Peter Bishay’s team shared their groundbreaking work on robotic smart prosthetics, designing an arm the same size as a natural limb, with full wrist, elbow, and finger movement.
Students showcase their work in the Autodesk Makerspace during the VIP tour of the ATEC (Ringo Chiu).
Nearly 70% of CSUN students are the first in their families to go to college, and the school is among the top five in the country for graduating underrepresented students in STEM. The ATEC will be the first time many of these students gain access to cutting-edge tools, mentors, and hands-on training—the kinds of opportunities that can launch their careers in Design and Make.
“Autodesk is proud to have supported the first and last mile of funding and Autodesk is proud to support the mission of ATEC—a mission to not only enhance the quality of engineering education at CSUN, but to also engage the community the university serves, so young minds in that community can pursue technical careers, careers that will better their lives and the lives of others. We’re absolutely proud to be part of that vision. I’m proud that I came back here and hoped we could do more, but let’s not forget, nor fail to acknowledge that it is the inspired and dedicated educators like Dr. Beck and all the faculty and administrators at CSUN that have really made this possible.” – Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk CEO and proud CSUN alumnus
Autodesk CEO and CSUN alumnus Andrew Anagnost gathers with students, faculty, and leaders as the ATEC opens its doors for the first time (David J. Hawkins).
CSUN alumnus and CEO of Autodesk Andrew Anagnost delivers opening remarks to mark the launch of the ATEC (Luis Luque).
A center for Design and Make excellence
The ATEC will be open to every student on campus, bringing together programs from the College of Engineering & Computer Science, plus STEAM and innovation programs that reach local K-12 schools.
It will also be home to the Global Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Innovation Hub—the first center of its kind in the country—created to open more equitable pathways into education and technology across the CSU system and beyond. Autodesk is proud to be part of that mission.
Inside, students will find six cutting-edge labs, from AI and AR/VR to advanced manufacturing and the High Bay Structural Lab, the only place in California where students can test critical infrastructure projects like earthquake resiliency.
CSUN students were involved from the very beginning and given real influence in shaping the vision and priorities of the ATEC. The space is meant to feel alive with their energy, their needs, and their ambition.
CSUN students showcase their concrete canoe project in the ATEC’s High Bay Structural Lab (David J. Hawkins).
The ATEC welcomes CSUN students and the surrounding community to gain the tech skills they need to design a brighter future (Ringo Chiu).
Closing the skills gap
Students today don’t feel prepared for jobs of the future. Autodesk’s recent Career Readiness report* found that nearly half of U.S. college students don’t believe they’re learning the right AI skills to land a job, 70% say they want classes focused on solving real-world problems, and less than 40% feel they have access to the industry-grade tools they’ll be expected to use on the job.
Spaces like the ATEC are designed to change that, giving students the hands-on access to technology, mentorship, and real-world training they’ve been asking for.
The ATEC opening marks an important step forward in our work to equip the next generation of Design and Make leaders for their careers, serving as a tangible example of industry, government, and academia working together to expand opportunity for those who need it most.
Students and faculty welcome government officials along with CSUN and Autodesk leadership for a VIP tour of the ATEC, showcasing the high-tech projects that will shape the space (Ringo Chiu).
Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost connects with former Congressman Tony Cárdenas at the ATEC ribbon cutting (Ringo Chiu).
Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost and CSUN President Dr. Erika Beck lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially opening the ATEC (Ringo Chiu).
*Autodesk’s Career Readiness Report was conducted by third-party analytics firm Global Data: Global Data surveyed 1,500 students ages 14 to 23 across high school, university, community college, and vocational/trade schools in the U.S. in fall of 2024.
