Center for Discovery & Design
Center for Discovery & Design
Mission: To empower the next generation of engineers, computer scientists, and innovators through hands-on technical mastery, rigorous design, and competitive real-world problem solving.
Established in 2024, the Center for Discovery & Design is where bold ideas turn into physical reality. Spanning a state-of-the-art 4,000-square-foot fabrication facility, our four-year pathway program guides students through an immersive engineering and computer science journey. Step by step, students build foundational technical skills, tackle real-world challenges of increasing complexity, and cultivate deep resilience through iterative testing and hands-on trial. From programming autonomous competition robots and defending networks in national cybersecurity tournaments to analyzing airfoils in a wind tunnel and custom-milling precision metal parts, students gain the technical confidence and problem-solving mindset needed to lead at the university level and beyond.
Why Join Discovery & Design:
Tackle complex, open-ended problems head-on. Experience the full engineering lifecycle by debugging code, troubleshooting circuits, and refining physical prototypes through failure.
Practice real-world procedures using multi-axis CNC machining, rapid prototyping systems, PCB fabrication, and Linux infrastructure.
Master technical documentation and project presentation, graduating with the communication skills and lab fluency expected at top-tier universities.
Collaborate with peers to design, build, and defend complex systems in regional and national robotics and cybersecurity tournaments.
Academic Offerings & Focus Areas
- CAD & Rapid Prototyping: Master 3D computer-aided design (CAD) modeling to engineer custom components and bring them to life using industrial laser cutters, 3D printers, and waterjet systems.
- Electronics & Circuits: Design, wire, and test physical circuit boards, surface-mount components, signal troubleshooting, and embedded hardware projects.
- Materials & Structural Analysis: Analyze structural mechanics and test material stress, strain, and performance under real-world physical loads.
- Advanced Manufacturing: Learn G-code generation, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) setup, and precision machining across multi-axis CNC mills and waterjet cutting tools.
- Software Engineering Foundations: Master core computer science concepts to build custom software applications, write system scripts, and excel on AP Computer Science coursework.
- Networks & Systems: Learn command-line navigation and system administration in Linux—the foundational operating system powering the majority of global server infrastructure.
- Competition Team: Compete in both Air Force Association CyberPatriot and National Cyber League challenges. Harden operating systems, locate hidden vulnerabilities, and defend virtual networks against real-world attack vectors in national competition rounds.
- Photo: 2025 FTC DECODE Season Robot
- Video Clip: Southern California Regional Championship 2026 at Monrovia High School
- Timestamp: 32:00 – 34:30
- Championship Distinction: Represent La Salle on a high-performing competitive robotics team that finished in 6th in the SoCal Regional Championship.
- Robot Engineering: Design, machine, and assemble custom metal chassis, mecanum drivetrains, motorized intakes, and active manipulators.
- Software & Microcontrollers: Program onboard microcontrollers for autonomous trajectory tracking, computer vision processing, and customized driver control layouts.
- Aviation Aerospace Club – join this student led club for students passionate about flight and combining the skills offered by the lab to build and study plane models
- Wind Tunnel Testing: Measure aerodynamic forces (lift, drag, and fluid dynamics) on custom student-designed wing profiles and airfoils.
- Flight Simulation: Master flight mechanics, navigation, and pilot control layours in a realistic simulation station
Facilities & Equipment
The Center for Discovery & Design is outfitted with advanced, industry-standard technology dedicated to providing hands-on learning experiences typically reserved for university or professional settings:
- CO2 Laser Cutter & Engraver: Trotec Speedy 100
- The first major manufacturing tool students master in the Center. Operating at fast speeds with high accuracy, this laser system is the primary workhorse for cutting custom acrylics, wood, structural plates, and hardware enclosures.
- High-Speed Multi-Material 3D Printers: Bambu Lab X1 Carbon & H2D
- Production-grade 3D printing farm capable of printing carbon-fiber-reinforced filaments, TPU, PETG, and PLA for functional end-use parts and rapid prototyping.
- Waterjet Cutter: Wazer Pro (Coming Soon)
- Industrial desktop waterjet capable of cutting high-precision custom 2D parts out of high-strength materials like steel, aluminum, glass, and titanium using high-pressure water and abrasive garnet.
- Industrial 3-Axis CNC Mill: Tormach 770M
- Heavy-duty precision milling machine built for machining complex metal parts, structural aluminum, steel, and titanium parts for custom functional prototypes.
- Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel: Pitsco X-Stream
- Variable-speed aerodynamic test chamber equipped with digital force sensors to calculate empirical lift, drag, and fluid dynamics on custom student-designed airfoils.
- Custom Aviation Cockpit Simulator
- Full flight simulation station featuring Boeing Military Edition cockpit seating, realistic flight yokes, throttle controls, and multi-display avionics navigation.
- Desktop PCB Prototyping: Voltera V-One
- Advanced benchtop circuit prototype printer that prints conductive double-sided traces, dispenses solder paste, and handles reflow soldering directly on the benchtop for rapid custom PCB prototyping.
- Electrical Workstations
- Dedicated benchtop ESD-safe workstations equipped with digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, and benchtop power supplies for circuit testing, signal analysis, and microcontroller design.
Meet the Director
Credentials: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University; M.S. Candidate in Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Contact: ibarrera@lasallehs.org
