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Board
backs plans for adding new research buildings
Staff
Report
The Board
of Visitors addressed the University's shortage of research
space when it approved early plans for building two facilities
at a meeting Nov. 9. The growth in sponsored grants, plus U.Va.'s
commitment to boosting science and technology as spelled out in
the Virginia 2020
planning initiative, have resulted in the need for expanding laboratory
space.
The board passed a resolution asking the U.Va.
Foundation to construct a new building at the Fontaine Research
Park that the School
of Medicine would buy as one way of meeting the growth in
research programs, which is expected to continue. The board also
cleared the way for building a second facility at the North Fork
Research Park for emerging technology, dedicated to faculty start-up
firms and major specialized University-sponsored projects.
The
Medical School will eventually purchase for up to $17 million
what is planned to be a 72,800 square-foot, three-story building.
The research facility, which includes about 210 parking spaces,
is slated to be finished in the spring of 2002.
The
project will be submitted to the governor and General Assembly
as a capital budget amendment, in addition to the funding request
for the medical research building, known as MR-6.
The
University also would like to provide new research space dedicated
to faculty start-up firms, private companies for satellite offices
or expansion, and special University projects at North Fork. The
University Real Estate Foundation project, with a price tag estimated
at almost $5.5 million, could be partially financed with an equity
investment of up to 25 percent from the University -- a measure
the board approved. The emerging technology center would be 41,000
square feet and outfitted with wet and dry labs. Occupants would
be required to pay rent for operating and capital costs.
Board members discussed how the center will help U.Va. attract
and retain faculty doing cutting-edge research. It was approved
in concept by the U.Va. Foundation a few weeks ago.
Peer
institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Virginia Tech and VCU have
similar facilities.
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