Rachel Seymour

Construction of a multidisciplinary research building continues to take place on West Campus although the site was free of workers on Easter Sunday. The building is in the shape of a triangle, and it will cover 160,000 square feet when completed. Completion of the building is scheduled for December. Once finished it will not be limited to any specific college or department.

Before the end of 2005, scientists will see the University of Kansas enhance its research in style.

The KU Center for Research has financed the $40 million multidisciplinary research building, which is expected to be completed on West Campus by December.

Architects designed the triangle-shaped 160,000 square foot building to enhance interactive research among its occupants, George Wilson, associate vice provost for research, said.

Occupants were not limited to any specific college or department at the University.

All faculty offices will be located in one of the building’s corners so faculty members can interact easily.

“If you go walk through Malott, you’ll say ‘Well where can this happen?’” he said. “The idea of putting people in one place interacting is the kind of interacting we need today.”

The assistance between researchers makes constant interaction a requirement, Wilson said.

The quick completion demonstrated the University’s commitment to enhancing its research as efficiently as possible, Wilson said. The $40 million came from bonds and will be paid off during the next 20 years, Barbara Armbrister, vice provost of research, said.

Wilson said he hoped the research in this building would create products that would enhance the University’s economic development in the rest of the state.

— Edited by Austin Caster