The University of Michigan’s Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building opened its doors at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester, serving as a space for classes and department events. The building, which was announced in 2021, provides a dedicated space for both the School of Information and the College of Engineering’s Computer Science and Engineering Department.Connected to the Bob and Betty Beyster Building on North Campus, the 163,000 square-foot space is located on Hayward Street.
In an email to The Michigan Daily, Andrea Forte, dean of the Information School, wrote the Leinweber Building will create a space to match increasing interest in the computing sciences.
“Both the School of Information and the CSE division have experienced significant growth, so the most fundamental need was simply space,” Forte wrote. “The Leinweber building provides that breathing room, and both units have already filled the space with activity.”
According to the Information School, the Leinweber Building was built with the intention of bringing the Information School and CSE physically closer to spark collaboration and innovation, marking the first time both programs have shared a facility. Forte wrote since the building’s opening, the multipurpose location has made interaction between both departments easier and more tangible.
“I’m seeing joint speaker series, seminars and research discussions happening with much less logistical overhead than ever would have been possible in the past,” Forte wrote. “And of course this is just the beginning.”
The $145 million dollar building — made possible by a $25 million dollar grant by the Leinweber foundation — was dedicated by University leaders and donors during a ceremony on Sept. 12. While the Information School’s graduate programs moved to the new building, undergraduate courses will remain on Central Campus.
In an interview with The Daily, Information graduate student Tamir Elsharif said the building’s location makes it easier for him to get to and from his classes.
“I like how it’s centralized, so everything’s here,” Elsharif said. “I don’t have to walk, because last year I had to go from North Quad to the dental building to Central Campus. It was like, a lot of walking. Here everything’s just like one place.”
Engineering sophomore Silvana Tellez told The Daily the building’s new classroom features can be useful in a lecture environment, including advanced audio and visual equipment.
“What I’ve noticed is that they have microphones, since it’s a big lecture room,” Tellez said. “And I think that’s really useful when people are answering questions.”
The building also provides sufficient space for students to study and work. For instance, both the Information School and CSE have maker spaces, with the Information School operating a design studio on the building’s first floor. Both programs also share a user study room for human-centered experimentation. Forte said these hands-on spaces give students chances to innovate.
“The School of Information now has a beautiful space — the Blessing Family Maker Lab — where students can do things that were never possible for us in our old location,” Forte wrote. “Now, our students can solder circuits and prototype with microcontrollers, 3D print new forms, experiment with sensors and actuators and explore physical inputs. They can build wearables, interactive textiles and smart objects.”
Daily Staff Contributor Caleb Obico can be reached at cobico@umich.edu.