April 25 Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for USU's Life Sciences Building

Utah State University announces the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Life Sciences Building Tuesday, April 25, 2017, from 1-1:30 p.m. on campus. The ceremony will take place at the building site, located on the former site of the Peterson Agricultural Building south of the Biology-Natural Resources Building and north of the Eccles Conference Center. All are welcome.

“We’re excited to move forward with this important project that will create vital learning opportunities for USU students,” says Maura Hagan, dean of USU’s College of Science. “Aggies in more than 30 majors throughout the university’s colleges will benefit from foundational biology classroom and lab courses housed in the new facility.”

Funded with $38 million in state funding designated by the Utah Legislature, $2 million from USU and $5 million from private donors, the 103,000-square-foot, multi-level facility will house the Department of Biology, along with 13 teaching laboratories, a lecture hall, research laboratories and student study spaces.

The new facility, which features a basement and four, above-ground levels, accommodates growing demand for courses required by students pursuing degrees in programs throughout the university, including the sciences, engineering, agriculture and natural resources.

“Currently, more than 2,900 students are enrolled, each year, in biology lab courses and our facilities, built nearly 59 years ago, are scheduled at 125 percent capacity,” Hagan says.

High demand for classes results in frustrating class waiting lists and delayed graduation plans for some students, she says.

Complementing new construction is a plan to renovate the existing Biology-Natural Resources Building, which was built between 1958 and 1961. Utah State University is seeking $22 million in state funding and $3 million in private funding for the project, which will include upgrade of existing lab, classroom, office, restroom, stairs and elevators. Renovations include improvements to meet accessibility compliance, along with heating and ventilation upgrades to provide energy savings.

“USU’s enrollment is increasing and, as Utah’s land-grant university, Utahns are counting on us to provide students with the education needed to pursue 21st century, technology-based careers,” Hagan says. “The foundation we provide will propel our graduates toward community-sustaining jobs with Utah’s technology leaders.”

On its website, USU offers webcams displaying east-looking and west-looking views of the construction site.

Parking for the ceremony is available in the Big Blue Parking Terrace at 850 E. 700 North, Logan.

Related Links
USU College of Science

Contact: Tim Vitale, 435-797-1356, tim.vitale@usu.edu
Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu