Governor, Legislature approve new Physics and Nanotechnology Building at the U

Contacts:

Preston Smith, University News Services, smith@umn.edu, (612) 625-0552

Rhonda Zurn, College of Science and Engineering, rzurn@umn.edu, (612) 626-7959

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/20/2011)–As part of the budget negotiations during the 2011 first special session, Gov. Mark Dayton and the State Legislature approved $51.3 million for an Experimental Physics and Nanotechnology Building at the University of Minnesota. The building was part of larger capital investment bill approved by the governor and legislators early Wednesday, July 20. Construction on the new building is expected to begin this fall.

In addition to the $51.3 million, the University of Minnesota received $4 million in planning money for the Experimental Physics and Nanotechnology Building during the 2010 Legislative Session. The remainder of the funding for the $80 million project will be paid by the University and private donations.

Highlights of the building include 43,000 square feet of modern and highly flexible physics laboratories and laboratory support space and more than 15,000 square feet of nanotechnology research labs (including a 5,000-square-foot clean room). All together, the facility will contain about 40 new research laboratories. When built, this new state-of-the-art building will make a significant impact in advancing research and educating the next generation of high-tech workers in the state.

"The $51.3 million from the state for the new Physics and Nanotechnology building is a giant step forward for the state and the University," said University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler. "It will help the University keep pace with the rapid global innovation in these fields and it secures the state of Minnesota's position as a leader in these ever-changing, cutting-edge technologies."

From the beginning, the impetus for the new physics and nanotechnology building has involved a strong public-private partnership.

"We are thankful to the business community for their support of this project at the Capitol," Kaler said. "We look forward to working closely with the business community as this project moves forward."

Other University of Minnesota leaders echoed President Kaler's appreciation and excitement.

"We are delighted that Gov. Dayton viewed this building as a priority," said Steven L. Crouch, dean of the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering. Early in the 2011 regular legislative session Governor Dayton made this building a hallmark of the capital investment bill he proposed to the legislature.

"Many legislators, regardless of their political persuasion, have also viewed this project as a priority, and we are grateful for their support," Crouch said. "This is tremendous news for the University and the technology community in our state. We are very pleased to have this building get the 'green light.'"

In addition to University leaders, business and high tech community leaders in Minnesota worked to support the funding of this building. Leaders of MN Nano, a statewide association working to establish Minnesota's standing as a region of excellence in nanoscience, urged legislators to provide funding for the building. MN Nano advocated that a "supplemental bonding bill" should be a priority in 2011, despite the focus on the state's budget. They cited the importance of science and technology and the role this building project can play in boosting the state's future economy.

"Seeing this building come to fruition has been a top legislative priority for us," explains Rich Baker, vice president of engineering for MTS Systems Corporation and MN Nano board chairman. "We are very pleased legislators and the governor agreed to advance this project now, rather than wait for the 2012 session. This means construction crews can be in the ground soon, putting up a building that will play a critical role in this state's ability to compete for highly-skilled faculty and graduate students."

Baker acknowledged the many private-sector individuals who have taken the time to contact their legislators so lawmakers would see the importance of this project, not as "just another building at the University," but as "vitally important to fast-tracking interdisciplinary research for commercialization opportunities to positively impact our future economy."

The University of Minnesota has been working with its architectural partners, Architectural Alliance in cooperation with Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP. During the planning process, the University of Minnesota also has selected Mortenson Construction for construction of the future state-of-the-art physics and nanotechnology building. An announcement will come soon regarding a date for the groundbreaking.