Envoc Innovation Lab Opening for Tech-Focused Students at SLU

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Jan 31, 2019, 08:45 ET

BATON ROUGE, La., Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A software company in Baton Rouge continues making an investment in software development education at Southeastern Louisiana University which, pending University of Louisiana System Board approval, will be named the Envoc Innovation Lab.

Dr. Crain and Calvin Fabre Cut the Ribbon

Envoc Developers with Fabre And Dr. Crain

After years of integrated teaching and mentorship in college classrooms, Envoc is investing in a more permanent involvement by funding development of the new lab. The high-tech computer lab opened January 29, 2019, and will provide a work-like environment on campus that is an extension of Envoc's company culture and mission to create a better reality.

"Many of our Envoceans at our Hammond office are SLU graduates, as am I, and we like to stay involved and create learning opportunities for future developers," said Calvin Fabre, CEO of Envoc. "We personally help develop the computer science curriculum at SLU, and some of our Envoceans even facilitate project classes, offering students an opportunity to work side-by-side with thriving professionals on innovative projects. The Innovation Lab enhances that experience on campus."

The computer lab will be located in the newly constructed Computer Science and Technology Building. Envoc worked closely with Dr. John Burris, Undergraduate Coordinator of Computer Science and Industrial Technology, to organize the lab's conception and opening.

"This innovation center is the result of education and software institutions coming together to invest in young developers," said Dr. Ghassan Alkadi. "The lab will provide an environment for computer science majors to receive professional mentorship, work on client-based projects, and gain knowledge beyond what can be self-taught or learned in a textbook."

Students are highly motivated by the opportunity to experience a real-world work environment, so the vision for the Innovation Lab was to immerse students in the environment of a software agency and encourage professionalism and innovation.

To bring this vision to life, the same interior designer for Envoc's Hammond and Baton Rouge offices, Mary Guiteau from Holly & Smith Architects, led the architecture and design efforts. Additionally, Scout Design is creating branded signage to guide students to the lab and vinyl wall clings to complete the Envoc atmosphere.

With a lounge area, two rows of modern workstations, two futuristic privacy chairs, and a section where students can virtually sit in on Envoc's developer meetings, the Holly & Smith designers made careful use of the space while providing plenty of room for students to move around. The lab even features color-coded areas to mirror Envoc's offices and provide students with a variety of stations to work alone or with a group.

Points:

Envoc has been a long-time contributor to the Computer Science Advisory Board at SLU.
Envoc team members regularly act as guest lecturers, and project class contributors bringing real-world business disciplines to the classroom. These include both technology stack selection advice and professional soft-skills such as presentation techniques.
Envoc already has an office presence in Hammond employing 10 SLU graduates whose team produced LA Wallet, the nation's first legal digital driver's license app.
With this endowment, Envoc brings its disciplined, professional environment to the SLU campus where Computer Science upperclassmen can be exposed to a professional code of conduct, and even live, project review meetings with Envoc clients.
Having won Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge for five consecutive years, Envoc will expose students to a proven culture of accountability and productivity.
Holly & Smith, also based in Hammond, modeled the design of the lab off Envoc's Baton Rouge Office space that it won an ITD.

ABOUT ENVOC
Envoc is a web and mobile software design, development, and application hosting firm, headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, with a second location in Hammond, LA. Envoc was recently named one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States by Inc. Magazine. Envoc's expertise includes PCI-compliant web and mobile software, complex architecture design, kiosks, and document management with a focus on user experience and user interface design. Envoc does not utilize overseas resources. www.envoc.com

Contact: Envoc, Dusty Cooper (225) 384-5549

SOURCE Envoc