Micron simulation lab. Onondaga Community College

Ashley McGraw Architects partnered with Onondaga Community College to design the new Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab, a state-of-the-art training environment supporting the region’s rapidly expanding semiconductor industry. Located within the renovated Whitney Applied Technology Center, the lab provides students with direct, hands-on experience using the same advanced manufacturing tools found in professional chip fabrication facilities. 

The 3,000-square-foot simulation lab was made possible through a collaboration with Micron Technology, which donated a suite of industry-grade equipment sourced from fabrication plants around the world, including Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Idaho, and Virginia. 

Because the facility is designed as a simulation lab rather than a fully operational cleanroom, it opens the door to community access and early workforce exploration. Young learners and local residents can participate in hands-on learning opportunities, such as those offered during Micron-sponsored summer programs, expanding awareness of high-tech career pathways across Central New York. 

The lab, along with additional training centers for Welding, CNC Machining, and Diesel/Heavy Equipment Repair within the Whitney Applied Technology Center, was supported by a $5 million gift from Micron Technology, matched by Onondaga County and New York State. 

Reflecting on the project’s impact, Ashley McGraw Architects’ Project Manager, Sara Berg, noted, “The Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab provides students with essential, workforce-ready skills through direct, hands-on engagement with the tools donated by Micron. Positioned alongside student collaboration zones and other high-tech instructional spaces, including robotics, manufacturing, welding, and automotive technology, the lab forms a robust experiential learning hub that maximizes opportunities for students across Central New York.”