Rutgers breaks ground for 115M chemistry complex

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Rutgers University President Robert Barchi gathered with state officials and members of the Rutgers community Monday to break ground for the new home of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.The new complex, which will be four stories and 145,000 square feet, will be utilized for instruction, laboratory and support space that will enable the university to expand its research in drug design, biomaterials, alternative energy and nanotechnology. At a cost of $115 million, the project is largely funded by the 2012 Building Our Future Bond Act.

Located at Rutgers’ Busch Campus in New Brunswick, the facility is the first major construction for the campus since the 1960s and 1970s. The project represents a major leap forward in helping the college meet the demands of contemporary science education.

“With these extraordinary new facilities, Rutgers University is poised to be a national leader in terms of scientific instruction, research and federal research funding,” Christie said. “Rutgers will be positioned to compete with and even surpass its peer institutions, making it an even greater magnet for top students from New Jersey and, indeed, from around the world.”

These new labs and classrooms are representative of a statewide push to enhance the quality of science education. At Rutgers alone, more than 5,000 students are enrolled in chemistry courses each semester. The new facility also will allow the university to expand its role in collaborative research leading academic labs, federal entities and private industry both local and international.

“This remarkable new building befits a premier research institution,” Barchi said. “Rutgers ranks first among U.S. universities in federal funding for chemical research. … The chemistry and chemical biology building demonstrates our commitment to continued excellence in science education and research.”

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