Controlling reactions with heat, light, and charge are the foundations of chemistry. In contrast, mechanochemistry–the use of mechanical force to alter reaction rates and pathways–is fundamentally impeded by the scarcity of modern experimental tools for applying precisely-controlled forces, and the lack of a well-developed theoretical framework to guide the use of force to alter reaction pathways. The Center for the Mechanical Control of Chemistry (CMCC) will address this challenge by establishing a fundamental understanding of mechanochemistry, by applying new instrumental, chemical, and theoretical approaches to enable the robust mechanical control of chemical reactions, with an emphasis on  surfaces and interfaces-the locations where force/stress is transmitted, and where synergistic catalytic effects can occur. This will enable the design, prediction, and scale-up of mechanically-driven chemical reactions. In Phase 1, we will develop an integrated approach to a focused set of well-defined, mechanically-active reactions, with the goal of establishing a deep understanding of selectivity and reactivity control, that will be applied to a larger portfolio of more complex reaction systems in Phase 2. This will be accomplished through the coordinated efforts of a highly-integrated team of chemists, physicists, and engineers at Texas A&M, UPenn, UC Merced, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and CUNY, in partnership with Argonne National Labs, McGill University, and industry (Dow and Eastman). By unifying and inspiring new mechanochemistry research nationally and globally, the CMCC seeks to make mechanochemistry a potent tool in every chemist’s arsenal.