Date taken: 11/19/2009. Click to enlarge.
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New Life Sciences Complex Nears Completion
Ceremonies officially launching the construction phase of the $33.2 million Life Sciences Complex took place on site the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. One year later, the roof is on, the brickwork is being completed, and most of the activity is taking place inside the structure.
The new Life Sciences Complex, a four-story structure with 87,000 square feet of space, will be a state-of-the-art research facility for biochemistry and molecular biology; developmental physiology and genetics; and plant science and will contain office and lab space for biology faculty in those subfields.
Major features of the new Life Sciences Complex, slated to be substantially completed by the end of May 2010, include:
- an open research laboratory concept to promote greater student-student, student-faculty, and faculty-faculty interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary interaction and increased use of shared equipment
- a climate-controlled rooftop research greenhouse designed for technologically advanced plant science research, including the use of genetically modified organisms
- a dedicated research aquatics lab incorporating separate fresh water (1569 sq. ft.) and salt water (1233 sq. ft.) facilities to allow researchers to utilize a variety of freshwater and marine experimental model organisms
- an open atrium space on the first floor with connector bridges on floors two and three to allow integration of faculty and staff in the current Biology Building with those in the new facility
Additional funds are being identified to finish out 13,786 sq. ft. of “shell space” as research labs for projected new faculty members and researchers being hired as part of the institution’s “research cluster” initiative.
The Department of Biological Sciences undergraduate advising and administrative offices will be relocated as one component of a renovated 3,000 square foot area in the Biology Building section that is accessible from both the old building and the new first floor gallery space.
Building Green
As part of UNT’s goal of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) “Gold Certification” status for the Life Sciences Complex project, recyclable materials from Masters Hall, the previous building on that site, were removed separately during the demolition process. According to the demolition contractor’s report, a total of 6,834 tons (approximately 85% of the weight of the Masters Hall building) were diverted from the landfill for recycling purposes.
Additional sustainability-related features of the project include:
- “daylight harvesting” to help save on energy costs within the interior of the building
- the installation of low flow plumbing fixtures for water efficiency and water use reduction
- the incorporation of materials using recycled content, as well as “low-emitting” materials such as paint, sealants, carpets, etc., into the construction project
- water efficient landscaping and the inclusion of an underground storm runoff water retention / water recycling cistern to facilitate water use reduction during landscape irrigation
- use of certified wood and wood products
- light pollution reduction
The architect for the project is the firm of Perkins+Will and the building contractor is Thos. S. Byrne, LTD.
Opportunities for Giving
As construction progresses, the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences are actively seeking support from alumni and friends to enhance the educational and research activities that will take place in the new Life Sciences Complex.
Traditionally, universities have encouraged their supporters to participate in new building construction by offering “naming opportunities” designed to personalize the building and its component parts.
The majority of the funds donated to the Life Sciences Complex will be applied to the establishment of an endowment to support graduate education. This focus will help us to attract top-quality students, facilitating the department’s teaching and research missions in a manner that ensures the long-lasting and positive impact of the funds on the department, university, and students.
Naming opportunities are available at all donation levels. These range from naming the entire building (approximately $16.5 million) and building floors (approximately $3.3 million) to individual laboratories ($279,000 - $12,000, depending on size and research area). Other components, including the atrium area, aquariums, greenhouses, individual offices, and research preparation areas, fall within the above contribution range, although donations of all sizes are always welcome.
For information on how you can participate, please contact:
Stan Walker
Senior Director of Major Gifts, College of Arts & Sciences
stanw@unt.edu
940-565-2342 or 940-565-4907Donna Chandler
Director of Development, College of Arts & Sciences
donna.chandler@unt.edu
940-369-5213Warren Burggren
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
burggren@unt.edu
940-565-2497Art Goven
Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
goven@unt.edu
940-565-2011