Currently, the Center’s laboratories focus primarily on large-scale structural and material testing, which is the hallmark of their research capability. However, with the growing demand for earthquake engineering studies from academia, industry, and government, the existing laboratory space and equipment have become insufficient.

To address this, the National Applied Research Laboratories and National Taiwan University have collaborated closely to integrate their research resources and personnel in earthquake engineering, creating a superior research environment. This collaboration aims to attract and cultivate talented students and researchers in the field, thereby elevating the level of earthquake engineering research in Taiwan. As part of this effort, an expansion of the Center’s original laboratories was planned to provide greater experimental space and capacity, enhancing research capabilities.

The new laboratory space is designed to house a 4,000-ton high-capacity biaxial universal testing machine and the 500-ton uniaxial universal material testing machine from NTU’s Solid Mechanics Laboratory (manufactured by Shimadzu, Japan). The Center assists NTU in operating this equipment, covering its maintenance, management, and associated costs, ensuring optimal performance and a mutually beneficial arrangement. By law, 1% of the expansion budget is allocated for public art installation.

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