Construction Under Way for Research Building (Saint Louis University)
Short story for Universitas magazine, Saint Louis University, Fall 2005
Construction Under Way for Research Building
By Allison Babka
Photo by Paul Sableman via Flickr Creative Commons
After two years of planning, Saint Louis University broke ground on its Research Building June 2.
The signature building in Midtown St. Louis will provide a new front door for Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center and will make it possible for SLU scientists to make research discoveries in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease and biodefense/vaccine development.
The $67 million Research Building is part of an $80.5 million project that also includes renovation of existing laboratory space, which will take place after the new building opens in 2007. This is the largest building project in the University’s 187-year history. “
Breaking ground obviously is great news and yet another piece in the revitalization of Midtown St. Louis,” said University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. “But the medical discoveries to fight human disease and human suffering that will be made in this building — new ways to cure, prevent and treat disease — will echo far beyond Midtown St. Louis.”
Saint Louis University and its biomedical research building will form the eastern anchor of “Cortex,” a public-private economic development initiative promoting the development of a nationally recognized life sciences industry in the corridor between Saint Louis University and Washington University. Cortex stands for the Center of Research Technology and Entrepreneurial Exchange.
The new Research Building will consist of a 10-story tower at the north end with the two lowest floors extending toward the south and connecting in a covered walkway to the School of Medicine, where additional research facilities and training space are located. Construction is expected to take 24 to 27 months.
This spring, Clayco was selected as the general contractor. The architect of the building is Cannon Design.