Missouri Protoplex

The Missouri Protoplex is a 117,475-square-foot advanced manufacturing research and innovation facility at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri.

The two-story building is the inaugural facility within a new research and innovation campus envisioned through Missouri S&T’s 2020 Campus Master Plan and subsequent Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility Study.

Designed by Perkins&Will in collaboration with Mackey Mitchell Architects as Architect of Record, the Protoplex brings students, faculty, researchers, and industry partners together in an environment created to advance manufacturing, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and applied research. The facility supports collaboration across disciplines while providing the specialized infrastructure, security, and flexibility required for advanced manufacturing processes.

A defining feature of the project is its ability to balance openness and visibility with the controlled environments needed for research and production. Flexible building systems and utilities were planned to accommodate changing equipment and emerging technologies, allowing the facility to evolve alongside advances in manufacturing.

More than a research building, the Protoplex serves as a bridge between academia and industry. It supports Missouri S&T’s goals of strengthening corporate partnerships, attracting and retaining students, expanding workforce capabilities, and positioning the university and the State of Missouri as leaders in advanced manufacturing and innovation.

Awards:
2026 AIA Chicago Design Excellence Awards Finalist