Indiana University officials held a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday for a second multidisciplinary science building on the Bloomington campus. The MSB II building will complement the newly built Simon Hall, which opens formally next month.
IU President Michael McRobbie says the construction of MSB II contributes to the momentum the university is building up in advancing life sciences research, in both mass and velocity. MSB II will unite researchers from the departments of Psychological and Brain sciences, Geological sciences, Geography, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. McRobbie says the building will promote collaboration among sciences for a more thorough approach to modern scientific questions.
McRobbie says it is fitting that MSB II will be built as a green building. Senior associate university architect of research Richard Thompson says builders will pursue United States Green Building Council LEED certification for the project.
Thompson says MSB II is part of the formation of a new science quad on the north side of campus that will include the Psychology Building and the Kelley School of Business. The six-floor structure will adjoin the Psychology Building and be linked to Simon Hall via a tunnel. Architecturally, Thompson says MSB II will mirror the Collegiate Gothic style and Indiana limestone facade of Simon Hall, which itself was intended to be reminiscent of the historic buildings that make up IUB's Old Crescent. Thompson says university officials expect to be moving into the new building by late 2009. By then, Thompson says MSB II will likely have a catchier name. The building is expected to cost nearly $46 million.