BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., January 26, 2012 – Siemens Building Technologies Division announced today that it has given Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) $100,000 to support the construction of the school’s Fire Protection Engineering Lab. In recognition of the gift, WPI has named the Fire Protection Engineering building’s conference center after Siemens to honor its leading role in supporting the advancement of fire and smoke detection technology and its underlying scientific study.

“Siemens has long been a pioneer in the field of fire and smoke detection and Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the industry continues to benefit from the relationship we’ve maintained over the years,” said Karen L. Bean Director of Development for WPI. “Our intent is to apply Siemens gift to expenses associated with the renovation of the Fire Protection Engineering Lab. To assure our leading role in academic development of fire protection engineers, we are recreating the learning environment to better serve students and faculty—Siemens generous support will go a long way to help us with our goals for the facility and for that we are truly grateful.”

Siemens support is earmarked for the school’s Fire Protection Engineering Lab, a facility that has been forwarding engineering and other advanced degrees, graduating fire protection engineers since 1979. Since the school’s inception, WPI has matriculated 596 fire protection engineers, most now serving the industry directly and ensuring that America’s buildings and their occupants are safer from fire-related emergencies.

“There are few institutions of higher learning that do more for the fire protection industry,” said Daniel Finnegan, Manager, Industry Affairs, Siemens Building Technologies Division. “Our gift not only represents our recognition of the vital role WPI plays, but also serves to highlight Siemens commitment to the future of the industry.”

About Siemens

Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, with approximately 87,000 employees worldwide, offers sustainable technologies for metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offerings include complete traffic and transportation systems, intelligent logistics, efficient energy supply, environmentally compatible building technologies, modernization of the way power is transmitted and distributed, and smart consumption of electricity.  The sector is comprised of the Rail Systems, Mobility and Logistics, Low and Medium Voltage, Smart Grid and Building Technologies Divisions as well as Osram Sylvania. 

For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities

The Siemens Building Technologies Division is the world’s market leader for safe and energy efficient buildings (“green buildings”) and infrastructures. As a service provider, system integrator and product vendor, Building Technologies has offerings for building automation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), fire protection and security.

For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies