Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation, has announced its official inauguration of the Pratt & Whitney Puerto Rico Aguadilla Engineering Center in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The event also included a $500,000 donation by Pratt & Whitney to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez to fund an aerospace teaching laboratory designed to train the next generation of mechanical and electrical engineers in the propulsion design and development.

The renovated, $14 million facility is 104,000 square feet and houses more than 800 Pratt & Whitney Puerto Rico employees with the capacity for 400 more. Since Hurricane Maria in September 2017, Pratt & Whitney employees around the world have been involved in relief efforts through a combination of financial contributions, donation events and volunteerism. Local employees have helped more than 600 families in eight towns by distributing food and personal items and by volunteering to repair damaged homes.

“This donation further strengthens our relationship with the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez,” said John Delametter, general manager, Pratt & Whitney Puerto Rico. “Many of our best engineers come from this university, and this new laboratory will help future engineers develop the skills necessary for them to be successful in the aerospace industry in Puerto Rico and beyond.”