N o t e b o o k • Volum e X X V • 2017
Crocker Science Center Nearly Complete Premier Science Hub Set To Open in November
T
Second, the Crocker Science Center will
O’Connor-Ririe, Harris Simmons and Amanda
at the George Thomas Building is nearly
be the new home of the Center for Cell and
Pahnke Simmons, Dinesh and Kalpana
complete. The highly-anticipated science
Genome Science (CCGS), a highly interdis-
Patel, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
hub is scheduled to open to the public in
ciplinary research facility for faculty from all
Saints, the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the
November 2017. Classes will be held in spring
four departments of the College as well as
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation,
semester 2018.
other groups on campus.
the Lawrence T. & Janet T. Dee Foundation,
Third, the modern science building will
the Semnani Family Foundation, Orbital
education will commence in this historic
include a technology incubator space. The
ATK, Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, and
landmark of a building,” says Henry White, dean
technology incubator will bring together
many other friends of the College, allowed
of the College of Science. “We hope every
entrepreneurs, business experts, and scientists
construction to begin in spring of 2016.
student at the University will utilize this beautiful
to help develop and commercialize new
science center. In fact, with a projected large
scientific findings and inventions for medical,
surveyed the building site and removed the
increase in student enrollment at the U, this
technological, and other practical uses. The
old library “stacks” from the south portion of
facility couldn’t come at a better time.”
technology incubator might also be used for
the building. Crews then installed extensive
industry-inspired projects for interdisciplinary
seismic upgrades to the historic structure,
teams of students.
including concrete piers that extend under-
These three functions, operating in tandem,
ground to a depth of 50 feet and lateral drag
will allow the College of Science to continue
struts that tie the existing building into the
First, the Center will provide undergraduate
its mission of educating and training
new shear walls.
and graduate students with state-of-the-art
students in core STEM competencies and will
laboratory facilities, smaller classrooms and
help the University of Utah remain a major
continued construction on the south end of
spaces for interactive educational experi-
economic engine in the State of Utah.
the building and finished the roof. Workers
he Gary and Ann Crocker Science Center
“A new era of scientific research and
The Crocker Science Center will serve several key functions at the U
ences. The expanded building will allow an
4
By April 2016, Okland Construction had
During the summer, Okland crews
had to repair and seal the old roof, and add a
increasing number of undergraduates to
A Brief Timeline
participate in research, and at an earlier stage in
The Utah legislature supported the project
their education. Curriculum in the Center will
with a $34 million higher education appro-
entire new structure for the Center for Cell
focus on increasing the number of highly
priation in 2016. The state money, combined
and Genome Science. This portion of the
qualified math graduates through integration
with donations from benefactors including
building is now entirely seismic proof and
of disciplines and teaching approaches.
Gary and Ann Crocker, Kirk Ririe and Mary Jane
vibration free to accommodate the highly
new skylight which is 30 feet by 75 feet. By December, crews had assembled the
