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INSTITUTE FOR INTEGRATIVE AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH (I³R)
U of A Chancellor Charles Robinson and Congressman Steve Womack were among the more than 200 guests, including faculty, staff and community leaders, gathered at the site of the future home of the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) to celebrate “topping out” the new building. The group signed the final piece of cross-laminated timber, literally leaving their mark on the building, before it was hoisted and set in place with a construction crane.
The institute differs from similar research organizations in two key aspects: its focus on convergence research
and its mandate to stimulate regional economic growth. As defined by the National Science Foundation, convergence research aims to address complex problems through deep integration across disciplines.
The institute’s convergence approach goes beyond academic disciplines to include industry, government and non-profit sectors, which are needed to deploy and scale solutions derived from the research, leading to economic growth and positive societal impact.
The building is slated to open in late 2024
