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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How large will the
Interdisciplinary
Life Sciences
Building be?
The new building will include approximately 220,000 gross square feet of space for research laboratories, teaching and related activities.
Q. Where will the
building be located?
The Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building will be located
near the former site of Parking Area 42, near Simpson Drill Field and the Memorial Student
Center on the campus of Texas A&M
University.
Q. Why was that location selected?
The location is readily accessible to both Texas A&M
University’s main and
west campuses. As the July 7, 2004 Briefing to the Council of Deans noted, this
location “offers a physical and
scientific link between east and west, and the beginnings of a life sciences
corridor along the planned vehicular and pedestrian underpass linking east and
west campuses.”
Q. Who will occupy the building?
The Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building, in Dr. Gates’
words, “... will be a major addition to campus and keep us at the forefront of
research and teaching in interdisciplinary subjects.” Various colleges and research centers involved in the life sciences at Texas A&M University will have a presence in the new facility.
Q. What facilities will the building contain?
In keeping with the requirements of the research planned for the facility, the building will house around 30 robust, flexible laboratories; meeting, seminar, and lecture rooms; core support facilities; computational equipment and spaces to support informatics activities; an auditorium and associated auxiliary space; and space to house operational staff.
Q. What will the laboratories and offices in the building look like?
Though many details still have to be resolved, the design firm has worked with Texas A&M to construct a mock-up of a typical ILSB laboratory space and office. The mock-up is in the former Graphic Services building on Ireland Street on the Texas A&M University campus (Building 499). Tours of the mock-up are available. Individuals or groups touring the mock-up are asked to complete a survey after touring the mock-up; the survey form is available here.
Q. When will the
building be ready for occupancy?
Completion of the building is slated for August 2008.
Q. What special construction certification will the building meet?
Texas
A&M University
is pursuing the goal of having the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building meet
LEED Silver Certification standards in sustainable design.
Q. What is LEED certification?
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard
for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED certification distinguishes building projects that
have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by meeting the highest
performance standards.
Points toward LEED certification are awarded in the
categories of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere,
materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation and design
process. New buildings meeting LEED Silver Certification standards have earned
a combined total of at least 33 points in these categories. (Read more about the ILSB and LEED certification here).
Q. What will the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building cost to build?
In 2004, $95 million was made available for the ILSB from
the Available University Fund (the revenue stream from the Permanent University
Fund), thanks to an increased allocation to Texas A&M approved by then
Texas A&M University System Interim Chancellor Benton Cocanougher and
endorsed by the chairman and vice chairman of the A&M System Board of
Regents.
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There are several other projects being planned or underway, including an expansion of the Comparative Medicine Program, a new Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging facility and a new wing for the Veterinary Research Tower.