Faculty Complete Move into New Life Sciences Complex
Although the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Life Sciences Complex won't take place until October 16, 2010, coinciding with UNT's Homecoming celebration, "Phase 1" of the building's construction recently reached a milestone: on June 9, 2010, faculty began moving into their new labs and offices. Although work continued on miscellaneous items that would make the building fully operational and complete the landscaping, the basics were in place for academic work to commence.
The new Life Sciences Complex, a four-story structure with 87,000 square feet of space, is a state-of-the-art research facility that connects to the Biology Building and allows for UNT's continually expanding research activities in the life sciences. The new space contains office, lab, and meeting space for researchers in biochemistry and molecular biology; developmental physiology and genetics; and plant science.
Major features of the new Life Sciences Complex, which was completed within budget and on schedule, 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
- four climate-controlled rooftop research greenhouses 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
The Department of Biological Sciences undergraduate advising and administrative offices have been relocated as one component of a renovated 3,000 square foot area in the old Biology Building that is accessible from both the old structure and the new first floor gallery space.
Building Green
The Life Sciences Complex design and construction were tailored to the exacting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. It is the first of three UNT building projects that will be "LEED certified" and it is anticipated that the certification of the LSC will be at the "Gold" level. (The new football stadium and the Business Leadership Building are UNT's other two LEED-relevant projects.)
Actions related to LSC's LEED certification materialized early in the building process - specifically with the demolition of the previous structure on the site - as recyclable materials from Masters Hall 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.
- “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 water retention cistern which will be used for landscape irrigation
- use of certified wood and wood products
- light pollution reduction
The architect for the project was the firm of Perkins+Will and the building contractor was 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
940-369-5213Michael Monticino
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
michael.monticino@unt.edu
940-565-2497Art Goven
Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
goven@unt.edu
940-565-2011