Benjamin Brazil
Chapman University has officially opened the Daniele C. Struppa Research Park, marking a major milestone in the university’s growing profile as a leader in quantum research and innovation.
University leaders, faculty, local officials and members of the community gathered on Aug. 5 to celebrate the transformation of the historic Lydia D. Killefer School site into a state-of-the-art facility that will house some of the university’s most advanced research programs. Attendees heard speeches from Chapman President Daniele Struppa, President-elect Matt Parlow, Professor Andrew Jordan, Professor John Howell and Collette Creppell, vice president of Campus Planning and Design. Members of Chapman’s Board of Trustees and Orange Mayor Dan Slater were also in attendance.
“We’ve built a place where students, faculty and ideas converge to shape the future of science and society,” Struppa said. “We’re not just teaching physics, we’re expanding the frontier of what’s possible, and we’re doing it right here at Chapman.”
During his speech, Parlow honored Struppa for elevating Chapman’s academic standing throughout his two decades at the university. Under Struppa’s leadership, Chapman’s national profile has rapidly risen with the attainment of R2 status for high research activity and the development of new academic programs and state-of-the-art facilities.
“This research park really captures the many legacies of Daniele—both from his time as chancellor and as president—in elevating our academic excellence and strengthening the university’s dedication to research,” Parlow said. “It’s evident in the incredible opportunities for research, the assembly of this outstanding team and the groundbreaking work they will do in this newly renovated facility.”
The opening of the facility was particularly rewarding for Struppa, who spurred the creation and growth of the Institute for Quantum Studies, which is housed in the new facility. At the event, Struppa recalled pitching the physics program during his initial job interview to then-President Jim Doti.
“During that conversation, Jim told me he hoped we could make Chapman a great institution,” Struppa said. “I really believed we could do exactly that, but one of the first things I noticed was that we didn’t have much to offer in physics. Even though it’s not a discipline that attracts massive numbers of students, it’s foundational. Not just for science, but for civilization. I believed then, as I do now, that if Chapman was serious about becoming a great university, we needed to invest in those foundational questions.”
Event speakers also praised Creppell for her important work transforming the Killefer School into an innovative research and educational building while still preserving the legacy of the site, which is a registered landmark important to the history of desegregation in the U.S.
In addition to fostering inclusive education and scientific progress, the facility seeks to engage the community. The renovated building includes a revitalized historic lobby prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility. A film depicting the impact of the historic building plays in the lobby throughout the day.
Outdoor spaces and a courtyard have been enhanced, fostering a sense of community. A gathering space was also added to engage the broader public.
“Collette has brought to Chapman a completely different way of looking at architecture,” Struppa said. “She knows that it’s not just about a building, it’s really the ability of transforming an idea into a body.”
The idea—to become a global leader in quantum research—is well on its way to being fully realized.
A Hub for Innovation
The new facility includes a quantum research hub, which received a $2.43 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The hub will focus on key topics in quantum foundations research and aims to become the primary center of excellence for the field in the country. Quantum foundations seeks to understand what supports quantum-level phenomena from operational, scientific or philosophical perspectives.
Insights and discoveries in quantum foundations will be shared with the scientific community and the public through regular seminars, annual conferences and public lectures. The unique collaboration involves theoretical physicists, experimental physicists and philosophers who will apply methods from their respective disciplines to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of reality.
In addition to quantum foundations, the impressive team of researchers within IQS will study other critical subjects within physics.
The Advanced Physics Laboratory, led by Director Armen Gulian, is pursuing breakthroughs in quantum materials research, including the goal of achieving room-temperature superconductivity. The development could enable ultra-efficient computing, advanced quantum information processing and more sustainable electricity grids.
Additional experimental labs led by Howell and Professor Ebrahim Karimi will also operate in the research park. Their projects range from exploring the structure of light to developing affordable multispectral cameras that can detect agricultural issues, improve medical diagnostics and bring research tools to under-resourced schools worldwide.
The exciting potential of this research was palpable as guests toured the labs and collaborative spaces during the opening. There was a shared sense that the facility’s impact will be far-reaching.
“This day is the culmination of years of planning, creative design and hard work by many people to make this vision a reality,” said Jordan, co-director of IQS. “I want to give special thanks to President Struppa, who has been a driving force behind this Institute, for his vision and dedication in bringing it to life. That means not only this facility but also bringing in the right people—people who have worked together to make this a special place now and well into the future.”
