The Board of Trustees approved six new construction projects at its June 9 meeting, including the Stanford Research Computing Facility, Satellite Research Animal Facility, Stanford Auxiliary Library III, Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Building, West Campus Recreation Center and Olmsted Staff Rental Housing.
The expected completion dates span from late 2012 for the Stanford Auxiliary Library III to late 2014 for the Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Building. The projected costs range from $14.8 million for the Stanford Auxiliary Library III to $194.3 million for the Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Building.
Director of Campus Planning David Lenox said all the projects were approved in accordance with the future goals of the University.
“These are all critical projects to support Stanford’s academic mission and campus life,” Lenox said. “[The] key to the decision-making process is making sure that each of these buildings is sited appropriately in accordance with the long-range planning vision for the campus.”
The approved projects will serve a variety of purposes. The Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Building will allow for the expansion of the Department of Bioengineering and a relocation of the Department of Chemical Engineering and will provide both wet and dry laboratory spaces.
“The Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Building is the fourth building in the Science and Engineering Quad, completes the definition of the quad and is consistent with the original Board of Trustees concept and site approval for the entire quad,” Lenox said.
Additionally, the Stanford Research Computing Facility, a 22,100-square-foot building to be located on SLAC’s campus, will be built with energy efficiency in mind.
“This facility is designed to optimize the energy consumption these machines require. By collocating all these research computing rooms into one facility, you’ll get a more energy-efficient result,” said Board of Trustees member Rick Sapp ‘78.
Some of the projects have not yet received finalized sources of funding.
“When the budgets are proposed and at this preliminary stage, it is often not known specifically the mix of funding,” said University spokeswoman Lisa Lapin.
Approved projects are not exclusively academic. The West Campus Recreation Center, a proposed sports and recreation center, received project and construction approval. The 75,000-square-foot building, estimated to cost $35.5 million, will include basketball courts, recreation spaces, a pool and shower facilities.
Both the Auxiliary Library III and Stanford Research Computing Facility were approved as off-campus projects. Lenox said their primary purpose will be to support expansion.
“[The projects] are located off of the central campus to allow for flexibility for the future growth of other academic programs,” Lenox said.
Also approved were the Satellite Research Animal Facility and an increase in funding to the Olmsted Staff Rental Housing.