Indiana State Budget Committee approves Purdue projects, announces Rep. Sheila Klinker

INDIANAPOLIS — State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) said the Indiana State Budget Committee gave its approval today for two large projects on the Purdue University West Lafayette campus to benefit science and engineering students.

Klinker said the university was authorized to proceed with $64 million for construction of the STEM Teaching Lab Building and $14 million to build the Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering Addition.

“These are critical projects for the future of Purdue,” said Klinker. “The STEM Teaching Lab Building will be the first new facility for teaching labs since the Brown Laboratory of Chemistry opened in 1970. This new building will provide integrated teaching of chemistry and biological sciences for freshmen and sophomores.

“The building will have the highest quality of lab facilities which will enable Purdue to remain in the forefront of STEM studies,” continued Klinker. “Sixty percent of freshmen entering Purdue pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. As a result, Purdue ranks among the top three universities in the country for the number of STEM graduates each year.

“The Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering addition is also critical for the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, whose reputation has grown as one of the finest biomedical engineering departments in the world,” added Klinker. “Undergraduate enrollment has grown in the past four years and it is essential that the addition be made to provide research labs, a capstone design lab, and a vivarium with holdings for small and large animals as well as offices and space for graduate students.

“Purdue keeps moving forward and that is why it continues to be a leader in the various STEM fields, both in academia and in industry with Purdue’s highly qualified graduates,” concluded Klinker.

Construction on the 111,300 gross-square-foot (GSF) STEM Teaching Lab facility is expected to begin in September of 2018 with completion in August of 2020. The building will be located northwest of the Elliott Hall of Music. The $64 million project will be funded through $44 million in Operating Funds Reserves with $20 million coming from gifts.

University officials estimate that more than 80 percent of the students taking classes in the new building will not be from the College of Science. Most of those students will be from the colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, Health and Human Services, and Pharmacy.

The 29,600 GSF addition will cost $14 million, which will be funded by gifts. The new three-story plus basement addition will be constructed on the east side of the southern portion of Jischke Hall. The new section is scheduled to be open by August of 2019.