Major Building Renewal

UMD Life Science Building

The College of Pharmacy is a nationally recognized leader in professional pharmacy education, ranking fifth in the nation. In fall 2003, the College of Pharmacy on the Twin Cities campus its their program to the Duluth campus and enrolled 52 students. The Life Science Building will provide a permanent home for the College of Pharmacy's, Duluth program and accommodate the increased need for teaching and research space for the chemistry and biology programs.

Funds will be used to renew the Life Science Building on the Duluth campus to extend its useful life and to serve the biology and pharmacy programs. Approximately two thirds of the renovated space will house the expanded pharmacy program. The Duluth pharmacy program will expand enrollment, helping to alleviate the shortage of pharmacists in the state. With an emphasis on rural health care, the Duluth pharmacy program will train and place needed pharmacists in greater Minnesota.

The 35-year-old Life Science Building is inadequately ventilated; contains a high level of asbestos in floors, ceilings, and fireproofing materials; and has numerous safety and accessibility code deficiencies. To extend the life of the building, HVAC and electrical systems must be upgraded, sprinkler and alarm systems installed, elevators and restrooms improved, and the building interior and exterior repaired.

Kolthoff Hall

For years, "temporary" biology labs have occupied a large portion of Kolthoff Hall. As those labs relocate to new biosciences facilities elsewhere on campus, Institute of Technology (IT) is poised to reclaim that space to meet the need for additional chemistry research and teaching labs. Unfortunately, Kolthoff's infrastructure is showing its age. To meet new code requirements and provide a healthy environment for faculty, staff, and students, the building will require a new ventilation system and other safety upgrades. This $24 million project will help IT attract and retain the nation's best and brightest scholars.

Education Sciences Building

Two years ago the University lobbied actively but unsuccessfully for funding to renovate the former Mineral Resources Research Center (MRRC) that sits vacant on the bank of the Mississippi River. The building now bears a new name to better reflect the College of Education and Human Development's plans for it: The Education Sciences Building.

The proposed building will provide much needed space for the Department of Educational Psychology, the Center for Applied Research in Educational Improvement (CAREI), the Center on Early Education and Development (CEED), and the Office for Educational Accountability. Housing some of the top national education faculty and researchers in the nation in close proximity will allow them to work together effectively, to collaboratively pursue new sponsored research for the benefit of Minnesota's children, and to work with teachers and administrators to solve real problems in schools.

Academic Health Center Education Facilities

The University has made significant investments over the past few years in improving the research facilities for the Academic Health Center (AHC). It is now important to update the facilities to support the changes in health professional curricula and teaching methods. Current teaching methods require spaces that allow for small-group learning and problem-based teaching. Up-to-date facilities must be provided to stay competitive and to continue to attract the best and brightest students who; in turn, expect the best learning resources.

Most classrooms in the AHC are now 25 years old and have not been substantially improved since they were constructed. In order to meet the state's need for a well-educated health professional workforce, an investment is needed in the teaching facilities for students. This next generation of health professionals must be trained in the skills and competencies that are part of the new curriculum.

Funds will be used to renovate existing teaching facilities throughout the AHC including Mayo Auditorium, the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Center (old Dairy Barn), and classrooms and instructional labs in various AHC buildings.