The University of Nevada, Reno is planning a new 89KSF life sciences building at the Mathewson Gateway District.
The Nevada State Higher Education Board of Regents is the owner, while UNR is assisting in the development of the planned building. H&K Architects is the architect behind the project, and CORE Construction is the general contractor.
Construction is expected to cost $137M. The new science building will feature 18 research labs for molecular/cellular biology, neuroscience and chemical ecology. Plans also call for four teaching labs, a 300-seat lecture hall and a handful of conference rooms and collaboration areas.
The modernized building is expected to accommodate 4,000 students every year. The Museum of Natural History, which features a variety of flora and fauna local to the Great Basin, will be relocated to the new building.
The new building is intended to replace the 128.3KSF Fleischmann College of Agriculture building, which was constructed in 1957. UNR recently hired a consulting firm that determined the Fleischmann building cannot be modernized.
The Fleischmann building will, however, remain operable and accommodate programs with lower demand.
For funding, the University hopes to find a building name donor during the upcoming March Board of Regents meeting. Partial funding of $68.5M has already been obtained from the State, as well as private and institutional sources.
Groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for this fall, with completion targeted for fall 2029. (Source)
