Purdue trustees approve construction of life sciences buildings
June 18, 2012
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Board of Trustees' Executive Committee on Monday (June 18) approved construction contracts for a drug discovery facility, health and human sciences research facility and a parking garage, all to be located in the university's Life and Health Sciences Park.
The committee also authorized a $3.7 million budget increase for the now $28.7 million drug discovery facility that will provide state-of-the-art space for synergistic, innovative research and training in the discovery, design and development of new drugs.
"Students and faculty across campus are engaged in research that is leading to the development of therapies to treat disease," said Jeff Roberts, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science. "With this new facility, we are poised to make much greater advances."
The facility will ease crowding in laboratories at Purdue, including in the Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry, from which researchers like Philip Low have developed powerful drugs that target cancer and inflammatory diseases. Low's research group currently has several drugs in clinical trials through Endocyte, which is based at Purdue Research Park.
F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. of Indianapolis was awarded the $23.6 million construction contract.
The budget was increased to accommodate higher-than-expected bids and to finsh the second-floor interior space sooner than originally scheduled. Bond proceeds will pay for the project's first $20 million, and the remainder will come from gifts or administrative funds.
The committee also approved construction of the $38 million Lyles-Porter Hall that will house the speech, language and hearing sciences department, clinical facilities, and the Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette.
"The building will provide an atmosphere that supports the education and research goals of the participating entities," said Christine Ladisch, dean of Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences. "It will preserve their individual cultures while expanding opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning and engagement."
F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. received the $30.5 million construction contract. The project will be paid for with $22 million in bond proceeds, with the remainder coming from gifts.
The committee also approved a $13.5 million construction contract with F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. to build the Harrison Street Parking Garage, which will be connected to the Health and Human Sciences Research Facility. The $16 million project will create approximately 850 parking spots.
Writer: Jim Schenke, 765-237-7296, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Jeff Roberts, jtrob@purdue.edu
Christine Ladisch, 765-494-8210, ladischc@purdue.edu
