Applied Optics and Physics Building houses the Charlotte Research Institute offices, Physics & Optical Science research laboratories, and the Center for Optoelectronics & Optical Communications.  It contains approximately 98,000 square feet and was built at a cost of $25.6 million.

Engineering Research Building houses the Mechanical Engineering Department, Center for Precision Metrology, and the NC Motorsports & Automotive Research Center.
It contains research laboratories, graduate education classrooms and seminar rooms.  Precision metrology is the measurement of very, very fine tolerances (important in manufacturing and motor sports).  It contains approximately 100,000 square feet and was built at a cost of $20.7 million