Chapman University has officially opened the Daniele C. Struppa Research Park, marking a milestone in the university’s role as a leader in quantum research and innovation.

The project transformed the historic Lydia D. Killefer School into a state-of-the-art research facility. A neighborhood landmark, the Killefer School is remembered as one of the first schools in California to integrate students prior to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. By repurposing the site, Chapman has preserved its legacy while giving it renewed purpose for both education and the community.

“We’ve built a place where students, faculty, and ideas converge to shape the future of science and society,” said Chapman President Emeritus Daniele Struppa.

The Killefer School houses Chapman’s Institute for Quantum Studies, where scientists are already producing groundbreaking research. At the same time, the revitalized school was designed with the neighborhood in mind. A historic lobby installation tells the story of the building’s impact, while the courtyard and a dedicated meeting space are open for use by local groups and organizations.

Vice President of Campus Planning and Design Collette Creppell said preserving the school’s heritage was central to the project, “The bones were good and the vision was strong, so we undertook the adaptive reuse of this national historic landmark.”

The Struppa Research Park now serves as both a hub for innovation and a shared community resource, continuing the school’s tradition of bringing people together while looking toward the future of discovery.