The Paul E. Morrisroe Unit Operations Laboratory officially opened on Friday, September 26, 2025.

School of Chemical Sciences director Paul Kenis and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering department head Chris Rao welcomed College of Liberal Arts & Sciences dean Venetria Patton, guest of honor Paul Morrisroe (MS 71), and other alumni, donors, and members of industry to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate the milestone achievement. Although the lab has been in use since the semester started, this event commemorated the official grand opening.

Following remarks by Kenis, Patton, Rao and Morrisroe, attendees were invited to explore the lab and speak with students to learn about the experiments being conducted during this semester's Unit Operations course.

“I was impressed, even at a younger age, with the importance placed on undergraduate education at the University of Illinois, which is not always the case at research universities. [...] I was pleased to make a gift to support the new unit ops lab. It is a beautiful facility, and I am proud to have my name associated with it.” 
Paul E. Morrisroe (MS 71)

“Here students will engage in the type of hands-on learning that is vital in preparing them for successful, high-impact careers. It’s through transformative learning experiences like this that our students discover how much they are capable of and what a significant impact they can make on our world.”
Venetria Patton, Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

“This moment represents the realization of a vision that is rooted in our commitment to providing students with the very best in chemical engineering education. Teaching laboratories like this one are a cornerstone of that mission. They serve as the vital link between classroom theory and practical application, providing students an opportunity to learn about instrumentation and experimental setups that reflect real-world industrial environments.”
Chris Rao, Department Head