USU Breaks Ground On $60 Million USTAR Research Facility
Utah State University researchers will have a state-of-the-art facility to call home on the university’s Innovation Campus. A groundbreaking for the new Utah Science, Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) research facility is Friday, Oct. 17, at 1:30 p.m., on Innovation Campus, at 620 E. Grand Avenue (1600 North), in North Logan. The groundbreaking is open to the public.
The $60 million, 110,000-square-foot, three floor building will house USU USTAR researchers studying in the life sciences. When completed, USU’s Center for Advanced Nutrition will move into the building that will be equipped with an industrial-sized kitchen, lab space, offices and individual study participant rooms where biological samples may be taken. USU’s Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging will also move into the facility.
The $60 million, 110,000-square-foot, three floor building will house USU USTAR researchers studying in the life sciences. When completed, USU’s Center for Advanced Nutrition will move into the building that will be equipped with an industrial-sized kitchen, lab space, offices and individual study participant rooms where biological samples may be taken. USU’s Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging will also move into the facility.
“The kind of research that will take place in the new building will allow for growth of our USTAR research in the life sciences,” said Ned M. Weinshenker, USU’s vice president for strategic ventures and economic development. “The new facility allows us to further existing research already started in buildings on the university’s main campus and at the Innovation Campus. The expansion, in terms of the research and physical building space, will spawn more high-tech, high-paying jobs to the area and the state. We have already seen interest from developers to construct buildings in close proximity to capture resulting spinout companies.”
USU’s Center for Advanced Nutrition is focused on exploring the impact of nutrition on such 21st century plagues as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Other areas of research in the center include studying genetic markers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and looking at developmental disorders such as autism.
“The elements embodied in the new building’s design reflect two of our institution’s greatest strengths and opportunities in the life sciences — fundamental research in nutrition and disease,” said Jeff R. Broadbent, USU associate vice president for research. “The ultra-modern laboratory spaces and support services this building will bring to campus are certain to enhance USU’s recognition and leadership in these areas and promote the success of our USTAR teams. The alluring layout of the building will also help us recruit and retain the best research talent and create an environment that fosters exciting new interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research programs.”
The building will be environmentally friendly and be designated a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
“The primary purposes of the building are to give our USTAR teams top-of-the-line facilities in which to conduct their work, and to foster the connection with industry,” Dinesh Patel, managing director of vSpring Capital and chair of the USTAR Governing Authority, said. “We foresee the facility as a conduit for industry-sponsored research and new commercialized technology, bringing the efforts of the private sector and higher education closer together.”
The $60 million cost for the building includes all architectural, engineering and construction fees and will be funded by USTAR with previously allocated money and approved bonds from Utah’s 2006 legislative session. Construction begins Nov. 1 and will be completed in early 2011. The building was designed by AJC Architects and Payette Associates. Construction of the building will be handled by Gramoll Construction Company.
Innovation Campus is also opening the extension of its Grand Avenue on the afternoon of the groundbreaking. The existing Grand Avenue (1600 North) currently runs east to west from 500 East to 600 East. Grand Avenue now continues from 600 East to 800 East. The new road was funded by the Economic Development Agency of the Department of Commerce, a grant from Utah’s Department of Transportation and Innovation Campus.
A new Aggie Shuttle bus stop will be located at 620 Grand Avenue (1600 N. 620 East), allowing for easier travel for faculty and students from USU’s main campus to the Innovation campus. The bus stop will be included on the 800 East Express route that runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The bus will stop at Innovation Campus every 10-15 minutes.
Passed in the 2006 state legislative session, USTAR is designed to help Utah keep pace in scientific research and technological advancement — directly translating to a stronger economy, high-paying jobs, increased tax revenue and better quality of life, said USU Vice President for Research Brent Miller. The USTAR Economic Development Initiative leverages the proven success of Utah’s research universities in creating and commercializing innovative technologies.
For more information about the new USTAR research facility, contact Weinshenker, 435-797-9602, ned.weinshenker.usu.edu. For more information on USTAR, visit the Web site.
Contacts: Ned Weinshenker (435) 797-9607;
Michael O’Malley (801) 538-8879
Writer: Maren Cartwright (435) 797-1355
A rendering of the USTAR research facility that will be located on Innovation Campus. The building will house USTAR researchers studying in the life sciences.
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