Akron Campus to Host New Polymer Industry Cluster Facility

New Polymer Industry Cluster to Replace Lincoln Building on University of Akron Campus

Next year, the University of Akron will take a significant step forward in its commitment to polymer innovation by demolishing the Lincoln Building. This structure, located next to the National Polymer Innovation Center on South Forge Street, will be replaced by the Polymer Industry Cluster. The cluster is currently housed at the Greater Akron Chamber and is set to move into a new facility that will be constructed on the same site.

Construction of the new facility is tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, pending site preparation and state approval. This development is expected to solidify Akron’s reputation as a global hub for polymer research and innovation. Hans Dorfi, executive director and chief innovation officer of the Polymer Industry Cluster, emphasized that placing the facility near the National Polymer Innovation Center and other polymer and engineering labs will provide entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry partners with the tools and support needed to turn ideas into commercial successes.

The decision to vacate the Lincoln Building aligns with the University of Akron’s broader plan to concentrate more full-time staff at the Polsky Building in downtown Akron. According to a recent news release, this move will allow for greater efficiency and collaboration among faculty and staff.

The location of the new facility is also designed to enable researchers, small businesses, and established polymer companies to accelerate the production of advanced polymer materials and support go-to-market strategies. UA President R.J. Nemer expressed excitement about the project, noting that the university is the number one institution in the world for polymer science and plastics engineering. He looks forward to working with local partners to elevate polymer research and expand development opportunities right on campus.

Funding for the construction of the new facility has been secured through various sources. The Ohio Department of Development provided $31.25 million as part of the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub Award, with an additional $10.4 million matched by local partners. In addition, the initiative received $51 million in federal funding from the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Tech Hubs Phase 2 awards, which will be matched by $7 million in local investment.

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik highlighted the importance of the new facility in reinforcing the city's role in polymer innovation at both the state and national levels. Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro added that the project represents an investment in the region’s future, helping to attract jobs and talent while ensuring that groundbreaking research and manufacturing continue to thrive.

A Brief History of the Lincoln Building

The Lincoln Building, which will soon be demolished, has a rich history rooted in Akron’s industrial past. Originally known as the Wise Furnace Co., the building was named after Wilbert G. Wise, who founded the company in 1904 with $50,000 in capital. The company produced cast-iron furnaces that burned coal and became well-known for their lifetime guarantee on the "cast iron combustion chamber."

In 1913, the company built a three-story factory at Forge and Lincoln streets, along with an adjacent one-story storage and shipping room. Over the years, the building served multiple purposes, including a warehouse for Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in the 1950s and a Surplus Junk Store in the 1960s. It later housed O’Connor Steel, a heating and air conditioning equipment distributor, before being converted into an industrial incubator by the University of Akron in the early 1980s.

The Lincoln Building will be the second landmark on the street to be torn down in nearly two years. In January 2024, the university began demolishing the former Wonder Bread and Continental Baking Co. plant at Forge and Lincoln streets.

About the Polymer Industry Cluster

Launched in 2021, the Polymer Industry Cluster aims to conduct a deeper examination of the region’s polymer industry and develop a framework to achieve its full potential. The initiative brings together area colleges and universities, economic development organizations, and dozens of companies from the rubber, plastics, and chemical subsectors of the polymer industry.

Key goals of the cluster include growing investment, sales, exports, talent, and jobs for Northeast Ohio’s polymer industry, leveraging the region’s history of polymer research and innovation, and attracting businesses and talent to the region.

Call for Design-Build Firms and Facility Engineer

Alongside the site selection announcement, the Polymer Industry Cluster is seeking design-build firms to construct the new facility. Interested firms can review the request for qualifications (RFQ) at polymerindustrycluster.org/news/rfq-pilot-facility.

Submissions should be directed to Marshall Moore, Industry Consultant, at mmoore@greaterakronchamber.org by 5 p.m. on September 30.

Additionally, the cluster is looking to hire an experienced engineer to manage the day-to-day operations of the new facility. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field, with an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) preferred. Interested applicants can review the job posting and apply at greaterakronchamber.org/careers.

For more information on the Polymer Industry Cluster, visit polymerindustrycluster.org.