Last modified: Monday, September 24, 2007
Creators of IU Bloomington's next science building to break ground
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- An official ceremony will mark the start of construction of a second multidisciplinary science building on the Indiana University Bloomington campus.
IU President Michael McRobbie will host the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, just north of the Psychology Building, 1101 E. 10th Street, in Bloomington. Remarks by IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Bennett Bertenthal are also on the agenda.
The new building is currently being called Multidisciplinary Science Building Phase II, or MSB II. Upon completion the structure will form a new quad with the Psychology Building, the Kelley School of Business Graduate and Executive Education Center and the Fee Lane Parking Garage.
MSB II was initially given the go-ahead by IU Trustees in 2005. Its construction is expected to cost $45.9 million, $31.9 million of which will be offset by bonding authority from the state intended to help Indiana University expand and deepen its research operations.
As with Simon Hall, which will open formally next month, builders will use local materials in MSB II's construction, including locally supplied limestone. Planners will pursue U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
The building will encompass 128,006 gross square feet on six floors. Of that space, 66,739 square feet will be useable by faculty and research staff for office and laboratory space. The scientific fields represented in the building are not yet finalized, but it is expected most of MSB II's future residents will come from the departments of Geological Sciences and Psychological and Brain Sciences, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
If MSB II appears to have a similar look to MSB I, it's for good reason. Architects from Madison, Wis.-based Flad & Associates designed both buildings. Anderson Illustration Associates created renderings of MSB II. The structure's counseling IU senior associate architect for research is Richard Thompson.
For general information about the groundbreaking, please contact Robin Gress, IU Board of Trustees, at 812-855-6783 or rgress@indiana.edu. To speak with Richard Thompson, please call 317-855-0108 or e-mail rithomps@indiana.edu.
