New Carlson Analytics Lab Opens

The new Carlson Analytics Lab (CAL) opened up to faculty, staff, and students this week, marking the first major completion in the Connecting Carlson building project.

Crews transformed space in the northwest corner of the first floor into a larger space for CAL, which was previously located in the lower level of the school. The new lab features an open workspace, a meeting room, breakout rooms, and offices.

In CAL, Master of Science in Business Analytics student consultants use analytics, machine learning, AI, and data science to solve business challenges for client companies. Professor Ravi Bapna, the CAL academic director, says the bigger space provides more room for collaboration.

“The new space enhances collaboration, fosters innovation, and opens doors for faculty and students to build corporate and community partnerships and co-create a better future with AI and analytics,” said Bapna, the Curtis L. Carlson Chair Professor in Business Analytics and Information Systems.

Connecting Carlson focuses on updating some of the school’s most prominent and frequently used spaces. This includes a transformation to the auditorium and atrium, select classrooms and study spaces on the lower, first, and second floors, and a new Enterprise Lab suite. The project intends to promote collaboration, elevate experiential learning opportunities, strengthen a sense of belonging, and enhance connections with the greater business community.

This summer, construction continues on the auditorium, atrium, and roof, and expands to the Enterprise suite on the first floor, breakout rooms, restrooms, and lower-level common areas. The entire project is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.

For more information about the project, visit the Connecting Carlson website. For updates regarding internal operations, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit the Carlson School intranet.