N.C. State’s central campus is home to the Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) research shop, a 7,500 square foot research facility where discovering innovative solutions is all in a day’s work. The BAE shop creates prototype parts and machinery for departments on campus and across the state.

The shop, originally located in Mangum Hall, was opened in 1947 and made the move to Weaver Labs in 1957. The facility has produced some interesting creations throughout the years. Among them was a garden scooter that resembles a small hang glider with wheels.  The scooter, designed to help farmers with disabilities move around easier, highlights the nature of the shop, which aims to provide innovative solutions for those in the agriculture business. 

While the BAE shop focuses on agricultural machinery, they also work with other departments on campus, according to BAE shop supervisor, David Buffaloe. For example, the shop created some shocking modifications to a boat for the biology department. Buffaloe and his team attached tentacles to the boat that would electrocute fish. The fish would then float to the surface allowing them to be studied. 

The facility also helped create a device for scoliosis patients along with the biomedical engineering department at N.C. State. The shop used their machinery to bend a rod that matched the curve of scoliosis patients’ spines. The rod was then inserted to re-align their spines. 

The BAE shop also does repairs and modifications for existing machinery, and also offers its services to the state of North Carolina and the federal government. Buffaloe stresses the cost efficiency of the facility. Many machines are bought from surplus stores for a huge discount. However, Buffaloe and his crew are still able to get their money’s worth, especially when these machines help out other departments on campus.  According to Buffaloe, his crew made a simulated river flow device for the Biology, saving the university money.

Buffaloe, who has been working with the shop for 36 years doesn’t see himself retiring anytime soon. “People ask me, ‘why haven’t you retired,’” Buffaloe said. “My answer is ‘I’m having fun.’ We have the chance to make things that can be found on campus and across the state. It’s fascinating turning an idea into reality.”