Engineering and Technology – A Glimpse into La Salle College Preparatory’s Newest Space

At La Salle College Preparatory, the Center for Discovery and Design is the latest addition to our campus—a space dedicated to fostering innovation, exploration, and hands-on learning in engineering and technology. This state-of-the-art facility has become the heart of two courses: Science of Engineering and Architecture and Science of Innovation and Design. It also houses the La Salle Robotics Team, which has recently transitioned to the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). Let’s dive into the exciting progress and achievements of these classes and the robotics team as they make the most of the resources and equipment in this vibrant space.

Science of Engineering and Architecture: Building a Strong Foundation

In the Science of Engineering and Architecture course, students have started the year by learning about the strength of materials. This foundational knowledge is critical as they understand the forces that structures must withstand and the principles governing material choice and structural integrity. Through hands-on projects and lab experiments, students are gaining a clear understanding of how these concepts apply to real-world engineering challenges.

Science of Innovation and Design: From Ideas to Reality

Meanwhile, in the Science of Innovation and Design course, students have been introduced to computer-aided design (CAD) fundamentals and laser cutting. These skills are essential in the engineering toolkit, enabling students to design and prototype their ideas with precision and creativity. Currently, students are set to commence a month-long project that focuses on solid mechanics, an essential topic in engineering that deals with how materials behave under various forces. This open-ended project gives students a first experience with the engineering design process—encouraging them to think critically, experiment, and iterate on their designs to solve problems.

Robotics Team: A New Chapter with FIRST Tech Challenge

One of the highlights of the Center for Discovery and Design is the home it provides to the La Salle Robotics Team. This year, the team has moved from VEX Robotics to the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), marking an exciting shift allowing greater flexibility and creativity in robot design. We continue our tradition of the previous team, as many of the students who were part of robotics before continuing their role, providing leadership to our newer members. We also preserved the previous team names, operating as two sibling teams – the Red and Blue Lancers.

Unlike VEX, the FTC format enables teams to manufacture custom parts, offering students more control over their designs and greater freedom to innovate. The theme of this year’s competition, Into the Deep, has a deep-sea exploration twist, with the robots tasked with collecting “sample” blocks and moving them to designated scoring zones. While the premise of the competition may seem straightforward, achieving success in FTC demands high-level strategic thinking and rapid iteration as the team refines its prototypes. Their hard work and dedication have already paid off: at their first official meet, the two Lancer teams claimed 1st and 3rd place out of 14 local teams—a huge accomplishment that has energized the entire group and set a high standard for the season ahead.

Fostering the Next Generation of Innovators

As La Salle College Preparatory continues to expand its offerings in engineering and

technology, the Center for Discovery and Design is proving to be a place where students can explore, innovate, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether it’s designing architectural structures, creating CAD models, or building competitive robots, students here are gaining invaluable skills that will serve them well in college, careers, and beyond. The future looks bright at the Center for Discovery and Design, and we can’t wait to see what our students create next!