University of Michigan planning to build $46 million nanotechnology research facility on North Campus
The University of Michigan plans to build a 63,000-square-foot research facility to house a new nanotechnology operation on its North Campus, U-M and the U.S. government announced today.
The new facility, called the Center of Excellence in Nano Mechanical Science & Engineering (NAMSE), will be financed in part by a $9.48 million grant announced today by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The U.S. government said the project would cost $41.2 million, but U-M said the final pricetag would be closer to $46 milion. U-M said construction would start in spring 2011 and finish in May 2013.
The University of Michigan plans to build a 63,000-square-foot research facility called the Center of Excellence in Nano Mechanical Science & Engineering at the location labeled above as NAMSE.
Photo courtesy of U-M
"The new research facility will explore a broad range of topics at the intersection of mechanical engineering and nanometer-scale science and technology," NIST said in a statement.
The facility will be located on U-M's North Campus off of Hayward Drive and directly adjacent to the G.G. Brown Laboratory in a cluster of buildings dedicated toward engineering research and education.
The U-M Board of Regents originally approved the project in June 2009, calling it an addition to the G.G. Brown building, but now the facility is being described as wholly dedicated to nanotechnology research. The project still needs additional approval from the Board of Regents to move forward.
The U.S. government said the three-story building would include 60 laboratory modules, eight specialized NIST chambers and an underground ultra-low vibration lab.
“Strengthening research and development in the United States is critical to our ability to create jobs and remain competitive,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a statement. “These construction grants will help the U.S. produce world-leading research in science and technology that will advance our economic growth and international competitiveness.”
Researchers will focus on various nanotechnologies, including nanomanufacturing, DNA molecules, energy conversion and microelectromechanical systems for use in medical technologies.
“Michigan Engineering has always been strong in traditional large-scale mechanical engineering areas including automotive research. This new facility will propel us to the next level. It will allow researchers to pursue exciting projects at the frontiers of mechanical science and engineering, where the discipline intersects with nanoscience and biology,” U-M College of Engineering Dean David Munson said in a statement.
Some $15 million for the project will come from U-M's financial resources, $15 million from what the university called "private commitments" and $6.5 million from the College of Engineering.
U-M is considered a global leader in nanotechnology research. One of the university's spinoff companies, Ann Arbor-based NanoBio Corp., founded and led by U-M professor James Baker, last year signed a multimillion-dollar licensing deal with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to market one of its therapeutic medicinal candidates.
Jack Hu, U-M's associate dean for academic affairs in engineering, led U-M's efforts to secure the NIST funding. He described the nanotechnology facility as a multi-disciplinary opportunity.
“Nanotechnology is full of promise,” Hu said in a statement. “It has applications in manufacturing, in medicine and in solar and thermal energy conversion, to name just a few fields. Fundamental to all these areas is a good understanding of the mechanical behavior of nanoparticles and we don’t yet have that. Through this facility, we are providing an enabling platform for this research and innovation.”
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Comments
free2eat
Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 5:46 a.m.
The research that I've read is cautious about nanotechnology. I've heard evidence that the particles are so small they may enter our bodies more easily, the same goes for the environment. I think research is very important and I support that, but it needs to be fully researched before it is used in our day to day life. However, it's too late for that, it is used regularly in sunscreens, clothing and other items.
jon67
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 8:17 p.m.
"U-M says the Board of Regents previously approved the design of the project, but the project itself had not yet been given the official go-ahead, as I understand it." Well, I hate to quibble, but, in the interest of accuracy, I should like to point out that you have the true order of events exactly reversed. University construction projects are, in fact, FIRST approved in principle and general concept, with concurrent appointment of a specific architect and a directive to proceed with design the project. SECOND, often up to a year later, the completed design is then submitted to the regents and approved for bidding and construction, within the approved budget. The G. G. Brown addition project was approved in concept and principle in June, 2009. No design existed at that time. The well-known firm of Perkins & Will was then approved for appointment as design architects. If the architects actually ever presented a completed design to the University, it was never published to we casual observers.
SillyTree
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 8:12 p.m.
@Mikey2u Sorry, you beat me to it. I didn't see yours.
SillyTree
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 7:22 p.m.
This shouldn't require much space at all(sic.)
Nathan Bomey
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 7:18 p.m.
Just added this line to the story: >>The U-M Board of Regents originally approved the project in June 2009, calling it an addition to the G.G. Brown building, but now the facility is being described as wholly dedicated to nanotechnology research. The project still needs additional approval from the Board of Regents to move forward.
Nathan Bomey
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 7:08 p.m.
U-M says the Board of Regents previously approved the design of the project, but the project itself had not yet been given the official go-ahead, as I understand it. The university has been pursuing the NIST funding for several months -- and today the U.S. government officially awarded U-M the funding.
jon67
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 6:26 p.m.
About the described "underground ultra-low vibration lab" in this project: In December, 2008, the regents approved a project for the department of mechanical engineering, to construct an ultra-low vibration research laboratory in the basement level of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building. It involved renovation of approximately 6,700 gross square feet of existing basement space, at a cost of $5.3 million, with funding from the College of Engineering. This project was subsequently cancelled without public explanation. It appears to have now resurfaced as a part of the G. G. Brown addition announced (again) today.
Mikey2u
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.
You would think nanotechnology could be developed in a very tiny building.
jon67
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 6:10 p.m.
This project really falls into the category of "old news." At their June, 2009 meeting, the regents were presented with and approved a construction project for the department of mechanical engineering, described as a 66,000 sq. ft. addition to the north side of G. G. Brown Lab, at a cost of $56 million. This was largely the "new construction" portion of an even bigger and earlier announced project for renovating and expanding all of G. G. Brown Laboratory, at an estimated cost of $133 million, which never got going for lack of any state funding contribution. The project approved in June of last year was to be funded, in part, by a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the same grant which was "announced," once again, today. Same location, same project, though it has apparently shrunk a bit in size and $10 million (!) in cost. So, no real news here, other than this project has been dragging on for quite some time and appears to have shrunk somewhat from what was first planned.
Kafkaland
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 5:56 p.m.
@Wolvrne88: It is generally not possible to use existing buildings for facilities like this, because the required vibration isolation is typically built into the foundation, through design and special features that can go in only at that stage. Retrofitting a building that is not originally built for that purpose is next to impossible. As nice as it would be to convert Pfizer space for this purpose, it's just not feasible in this case.
sbbuilder
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 4:59 p.m.
Something's not right. The story says that the facility will be 63,000 sq ft, but looking at the picture, that just can't be. At least, not unless its a thirty story building.
Wolvrne88
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 4:58 p.m.
I'd love to see the university use some of the existing buildings on the Pfizer campus for this project. That would clearly be the "greenest" option.
alterego
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 4:01 p.m.
Interesting to observe that the NAMSE looks to be one of the smallest structures in the engineering complex. A nano-building?
Nathan Bomey
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 3:58 p.m.
The original figure U-M provided on how much the College of Engineering is contributing to the project was $5 million, but a spokesperson said it is actually $6.5 million. The story has been updated to reflect the new information.
HaeJee
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 3:44 p.m.
Good for the university. I am amazed at how much the university grows every year.
Somewhat Concerned
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 3:33 p.m.
Very good news for UM and the state. Nano is one of the so-called future fields that actually is panning out.
DrD
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 3:24 p.m.
Good: New fancy building. Bad: Even less parking spots!
Ross
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 2:57 p.m.
Nah that's just directly adjacent to some older buildings that have been on North campus for a long, long time.
Nathan Bomey
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 2:50 p.m.
It's about half a mile southwest of the 174-acre former Pfizer campus.
HaeJee
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 2:44 p.m.
Is this at the old Pfizer location or near it?