Rutgers breaks ground for new life sciences building

NEW BRUNSWICK/PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Genetics and biomaterials – two of the hottest areas in biomedical research – are getting a new home at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Groundbreaking took place Thursday, July 18, for a $28 million life sciences building on Rutgers' Busch campus.

"This building, and the program and faculty it represents, is the product of more than a decade of vision, creative thinking and a tremendous amount of hard work," said Rutgers President Francis L. Lawrence. "It represents, in a very concrete way, the future of Rutgers as a world-class research university."

The three-story, 75,000-square-foot structure is targeted for completion in fall 2004. The building will include laboratories for scientific investigation and student instruction, and is expected to foster the research and training that will translate into human and technical resources for New Jersey companies

Pictured are, from left, Jay A. Tischfield, chair of the department of genetics; Kenneth J. Breslauer, dean, Division of Life Sciences; President Francis L. Lawrence; Holly M. Smith, executive dean, Faculty of Arts and sciences (NB) and dean of the Graduate School (NB); Joseph J. Seneca, university vice president for academic affairs and Joachim B. Kohn, director of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials