The nearly four-decade relationship between the University of Dayton and Emerson, a company best-known for refrigeration, is heating up with the grand opening of The Helix.

The Helix, which celebrated its grand opening April 27, is a state-of-the-art innovation center where University of Dayton students and faculty will work with Emerson engineers and industry leaders to develop innovations in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry. The 40,000 square-foot center contains five simulated environments that will provide University of Dayton students a real-world refrigeration research playground they can't find anywhere else — a fully-functioning and furnished home, a model supermarket, a light commercial environment, a commercial kitchen and a data center.