The Board of Trustees approved the constructuion of new research facilities for the Integrated Sciences Building and Cunningham Hall during its meeting Wednesday.

The Integrated Sciences Building, which opened Fall 2017, contains 13,500 square feet of unfinished space in its basement. Cunningham Hall, which received partial renovations prior to the start of the Fall 2016 semester, contains 2,140 square feet of unfinished space on its third floor.

Both spaces will be converted into laboratories, meeting areas and offices, said James Blank, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The new facilities will serve a variety of purposes for faculty research in biology and materials science.  

The facilities will also be “focused on student engagement in these research areas,” Blank said.

Blank said the Brain Health Research Institute, which conducts research relating to brain function and neurological diseases, will use the facilities as well.

The project has a budget of $8 million, according to the university website. $7 million will come from local funds intended for Phase 1 of the university’s 10-year Master Plan, while the other $1 million will come from state funding.

Paige Bennett is the sciences reporter. Contact her at [email protected].