Coming to Life: The Campaign for a Life Sciences Building | Utah State University

Coming to Life Campaign for a Life Sciences Building

CULTIVATING A RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT Quality research depends on the resources and lab spaces offered. USU students and faculty have the ability and are passionate to further research, but drastic changes need to be made.

Coming to Life

Through Science EVERY ASPIRING AGGIE scientist, engineer, teacher, along

with those who dream of hundreds of other futures, enters Utah State University with the need for a solid foundation of knowledge in science.

A new life sciences building will give students an academic environment fueling curiosity and discovery, and propel them toward life-enhancing opportunities.

Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building 1

JACOB DICKSON Biology Major

THE STEM OF THE ISSUE

Forty percent of the fastest growing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) jobs in Utah require at least a bachelor’s degree with foundational biology courses.

These include high-paying, community-sustaining jobs with the state’s technology leaders.

2 Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building

ISABELLA STUART Biology & Psychology Major

Now Serving

Student 2,901 CURRENTLY 2,900 STUDENTS per year require a

lab course – 125% of USU’s current capacity – and this number is growing.

The demand for foundational biology courses at USU has never been stronger. Our students recognize the importance of STEM-related fields to the future and are flocking to the 30+ majors that require these courses.

Unfortunately, this increase has led to crowded labs and class waitlists.

WHY USU NEEDS NEW LAB FACILITIES 1.

Current labs lack capacity to serve the increase of students requiring biology courses.

2.

USU’s 1950’s facilitates are outdated, stifling educational opportunity for students.

3.

Cramped environments make it difficult for modern research, science discovery, and technologically-advanced lab instruction.

Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building 3

Coming to Life

Through Hands-On Experience ALEX BEESTON Biology Major Beeston is gaining important undergraduate research experience by assisting in the engineering of cells to make them excrete bioplastics.

SHAB MOHAMMADI Biology, PhD Candidate Over time, many snakes have developed a resistance to bufadienolides, a protective toxin produced by toads. Mohammadi is researching how snakes acquired this resistence. 4 Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building

LAUREN LUCAS Biology Lecturer

MAILE BURNETT Physics Major

NEW BUILDING WILL ADVANCE SCIENCE EDUCATION Today’s new teaching techniques, such as live experiments and teacher interactions, are necessary for students to gain beneficial, hands-on experience.

6 Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building

Coming to Life

Through You BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS, technology

entrepreneurs, musicians, astronauts, and even Nobel scientists were all born out of the study halls, classrooms and labs at Utah State University. As with most momentous achievements at USU, private support is needed.

PROJECT TOTAL: $45M

$5M Private & Corporate Funding

Your support for a new Life Sciences building will expand opportunities for Aggies to experiment, discover, and share world-changing ideas. Thank you for helping build on USU’s legacy of educating tomorrow’s leaders.

$40M State & USU Funding

Noelle E. Cockett President Utah State University

Coming to Life

A New Life Sciences Building THE PLANS FOR THIS NEW FACILITY have received wide

acclaim, backed by financial support from the State of Utah, USU, and individuals like you.

The new life sciences building will:

1. accomodate both the current and future demand for students interested in the sciences.

2. provide state-of-the-art equipment, laboratories, and support spaces, propelling research-education forward.

3. bring an environment to faculty and students that promotes collaborative, discovery-based lab instruction.

8 Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building

Building Location Aggie Bull-evard (700 N)

Big Blue Parking Terrace

Taggart Student Center

S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney Biology & Natural Resources Building

University Inn

Life Sciences Building Widtsoe Chemistry Building

Main

Geology

University Conference Center

Merrill-Cazier Library

USU’s plan for a new laboratory facility with up-to-date technology, ready access to web-based curriculum and a team-building orientation is vital to meeting the human resource need of our business and others in the industry. — PAUL CAMPBELL Chairman of the Board, Campbell Scientific

A Look Inside THE NEW LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING will relieve critical bottlenecks currently causing frustrating class waiting lists and delaying students’ completion of degrees.

Expanded teaching laboratories and research spaces will give students a strong footing toward achieving their academic and professional goals.

LOBBY

The glass-fronted, four-story lobby forms a grand entrance and gathering space. The west-facing entrance provides expansive interior views to the labs, study halls, and café.

The dynamic, mostly glass, central staircase extends to the third level.

LECTURE HALL

The main lecture hall seats over 300 students and is equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual technology. Every seat is equipped with a retractable laptop stand. Large aisles throughout the hall allow professors to interact with their students.

ACTIVE LEARNING CLASSROOM

Accomodating close to 100 students, this innovative classroom is both modular and customizable. Students can use the space to collaborate in small to large groups, while instructors are able to provide direction from multiple angles with dual presenter controls.

GENERAL BIOLOGY LAB SUITE

CAFÉ

Students need brain fuel, and the Teas and Cheese Café (working name) will serve that need. The café is connected to the main lobby with access to an outside patio garden.

This group of laboratories, with ample natural light, accommodates up to 96 students (24 per lab).

The General Biology Suite provides greatly needed capacity for USU’s most in-demand courses, including Introduction to Laboratory Science.

BIOLOGY LAB SUITE

BIOLOGY LAB SUITE

BIOLOGY LAB SUITE

LECTURE HALL BIOLOGY LAB SUITE

BIOLOGY LAB SUITE

LOBBY

CAFÉ

LEVEL 01

LAB

PUBLIC HEALTH

CLASSROOM

OPEN AREA

ECOLOGY/ PLANT/ INSECT

ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR

ACTIVE LEARNING CLASSROOM

DRY LAB

CNR GIS LAB

GABRIELLA JUDD Conservation Restoration Ecology Major

LEVEL 02

LAB

CLASSROOM

OPEN AREA

Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building 11

Additional Teaching Laboratories A GROWTH CHAMBER, A SIMULATION SPACE for environment and air, and configurable space for Geographical Information Systems; each lab may have a unique focus, but one thing they all share is that they serve undergraduate students exclusively. Advanced labs with industry-grade equipment ensure students receive relevant education that will prepare them to lead in the workforce.

• Advanced Physiology • Microbiology • Cellular/Molecular Biology and Genetics • Public Health • Plants & Insect Lab / Ecology • GIS Lab • Dry Lab / Computer Lab

12

ACADEMIC SUPPORT Whether students need quiet solitude or a space for creative inspiration, a variety of study areas are located throughout the building.

Spaces can accommodate 4-8 people. Comfortable chairs, glass boards, and monitors make reading a book or preparing a presentation as enjoyable as working in the lab.

• • • •

Small group study areas Large group study areas Informal student lounges Conference room – available for students, faculty, and staff • Space for teaching and research assistants

RESEARCH LABS

RESEARCH LABS

RESEARCH LABS

RESEARCH LABS

FACULTY OFFICES

RESEARCH & TEACHING ASSISTANT SPACES

LEVEL 03

LAB

CLASSROOM

OPEN AREA

FACULTY OFFICES

LEVEL 04

LAB

CLASSROOM

OPEN AREA

MICROBIOLOGY

We invite you to be part of USU’s history by making a gift to the new Life Sciences Building.

GENETICS MECHANCIAL SPACE

Patrick Svedin Director of Development 801.946.0551 patrick.svedin@usu.edu

DRY LAB

MICROBIOLOGY

LEVEL 00

LAB

CLASSROOM

OPEN AREA

Coming to Life | Life Sciences Building 13

14