USTAR Buildings Add to State's 'Innovation Infrastructure'

Biofuels, nanofabrication, biomanufacturing and brain medicine are just four of the many programs scheduled to become part of two state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research and development facilities coming to Utah as a result of a key program of the USTAR initiative.

These facilities, one at the University of Utah (U of U) and one at Utah State University (USU), will be used by the recruited “all-star” research teams working in the initiative’s key innovation areas. Each facility will also serve as an industry magnet, encouraging collaboration between USTAR researchers and industry experts.

The USU building has completed the schematic design phase. It is planned to house, among other teams, the researchers pursuing the advanced nutrition, biomanufacturing, and biofuels efforts. This building will be located in the Innovation Campus on the north side of the entire USU complex. Grammoll Construction has been competitively selected as the Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC) as was AJC Architects as the Architectural and Engineering (AE) firm and design team lead. The facility is slated to break ground in October 2008 and open in 2011.

At the U of U, the CMGC and AE will be selected by September 2008. The Design and Construction schedule on the University of Utah facility has yet to be finalized, however, construction is tentatively set to complete in 2012.

The USTAR facility is part of the U of U’s recently updated Campus Master Plan and will anchor a new research complex. The usage needs currently identified, include a nanofabrication facility, vivarium, imaging, and brain science facilities, among others.

“We are encouraging our industry contacts to provide feedback on the design of these two innovation centers,” Ted McAleer, USTAR Executive Director, said. “The primary purpose of these buildings is to give our all-star teams top-of-the-line facilities in which to conduct their work. The secondary purpose is also critical, and that is to foster the connection between industry, entrepreneurship and research.”

“With the right design elements in place, we see these buildings as conduits for new commercialized technology. We hope to see these additions to the state’s ‘innovation infrastructure’ driving an increase in industry-sponsored research, and the creation of new companies and technology license revenue,” McAleer continued.

Funding for the projects came in March 2006 when State legislators created a $161 million USTAR building fund. The universities are providing a $40 million match, bringing the entire building budget to $201 million.

For more information on the building projects or the USTAR Innovation focus areas and research teams, contact ustarinfo@utah.gov.

The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) is a long-term, state-funded investment to strengthen Utah's "knowledge economy” and generate high-paying jobs. Funded in March 2006 by the State Legislature, USTAR is based on three program areas. The first area involves funding for strategic investments at the University of Utah and Utah State University to recruit world-class researchers. The second area is to build state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facilities at these institutions for the innovation teams. The third program area involves teams that work with companies and entrepreneurs across the State to promote science, innovation, and commercialization activities. For more information, go to www.innovationutah.com.