Michigan State University’s newest building bolsters the university’s commitment of providing interdisciplinary research space to support significant growth in STEM-related fields.
Today, the MSU Board of Trustees gave the university the go-ahead to proceed with construction of the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building, a 170,000-square foot facility, which will play a key role in support of MSU’s Global Impact Initiative.
New interdisciplinary science research laboratory space is key to the initiative’s goals, which will see the addition of 100 new faculty members hired to support key research areas. In addition, the new building will provide a competitive advantage for landing multidisciplinary grants, such as those available from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon.
“The strategic vision of the initiative is to solidify MSU’s place among the world’s premier institutions,” she said. “We’re committed to aggressively pursuing big ideas, innovation and global impact. The new building will add to our modern facilities, which are crucial to attracting and retaining talented faculty and students needed to solve the world’s most-pressing challenges.”
The new building will be constructed on the south side of MSU’s campus, near the intersection of Service and Bogue roads. The building is anticipated to be five stories and will comprise wet bench laboratories, computational research space, offices and collaborative space, including areas for shared equipment.
“This new building, coupled with strategic renovations and improved utilization of existing space, will allow the university to align its research capacity with the timing of the recruitment of the new Global Impact Initiative-funded faculty,” said Provost June Pierce Youatt. “We’re making significant investments in facilities and recruitment, which will no doubt further MSU’s reputation as a center for STEM education.”
Its location, adjacent to the Bio Engineering and Life Sciences buildings and other core research facilities, will allow the new facility to play an integral role in MSU’s development of a neighborhood of scientific research in the biomedical and biological sciences.
The project is expected to cost about $100 million and will come from the general fund. Construction is will begin August 2017 and is projected to be finished in August 2019. Input from the campus community will be solicited during completion of the design phase. This phase, as well as the entire schedule, will be shared publicly as the construction process moves forward.
CREDIT: MSU Today
