Syracuse University Building Life Sciences Complex

Ambitious Construction Project Heralds New Era for Syracuse University Life Sciences

 The study of biology and chemistry - the building blocks of all forms of life - is a cornerstone of liberal arts education. At Syracuse University, these disciplines are known collectively as the "Life Sciences." They are taught by prize-winning faculty in The College of Arts and Sciences who take interdisciplinary, rather than departmental, approaches to research and education. The momentum generated by their innovative approaches attracts majors and non-majors from every school and college on campus.

In 2006, Syracuse broke ground for construction of the Life Sciences Complex. The 210,000-square-foot building is the University's largest, most ambitious construction project. It will bring the biology, chemistry, and biochemistry departments under one roof for the first time in the University's history.

The purpose of the Life Sciences Complex is to promote interdisciplinary research and education. The building will be used as a vital instructional facility, a major research center, a training ground for future scientists, and a place where discoveries are made, particularly in the areas of cell signaling and environmental systems.

"The Life Sciences Complex signals a new era of scientific exploration and teaching at Syracuse University. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, students can learn, first-hand, the nature of research from faculty whose discoveries have the potential to change the world," says Nancy Cantor, Chancellor and President of Syracuse University.

Set to open in the fall of 2008, the Life Sciences Complex will be located on the Main Campus, adjacent to the existing Center for Science and Technology (CST). The six-story building will be organized into two wings, forming an "L"-shaped configuration. The research wing will house biology research laboratories, lab support offices, conference rooms, and faculty offices. The teaching wing will be home to biology and chemistry teaching labs, lecture halls, and research greenhouses. An atrium, enlivened by a cafe, will connect the Life Sciences Complex to CST, where chemistry laboratories are presently located.

"The Life Sciences Complex and the many new faculty members we have hired are recognized nationally and internationally as foundations of excellence at Syracuse University," says College of Arts and Sciences Dean Cathryn R. Newton. "They are vital components of our planning for important new scientific initiatives."

For more information about the Biology Department, please go to: http://biology.syr.edu/facultyresearch/facultyresearch.html