Governor Gregoire’s proposed state stimulus package, which focuses on accelerating a number of “shovel-ready” construction projects, includes two UW facilities. (The descriptions below and cost estimates are taken from the Governor’s release).
In Seattle, the Governor includes the Molecular Engineering Building. This new facility will provide a modern learning and research environment to support interdisciplinary teaching and research in molecular engineering and related disciplines. This new building will enable students, faculty and researchers to utilize state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories. The new building will include approximately 100,000 square feet of vibration-free program space. About half of the building is envisioned to be fitted with wet laboratory space with the remaining space dedicated to dry laboratories, office and support space. This building will help maintain and attract instructors and students to keep the UW and the State of Washington at the forefront in the field of engineering and related research. $69,554,000
In Tacoma, the Governor includes “Phase III”, which will renovate the Joy Building and add a fourth floor to provide additional classroom and faculty office space to support expanded and new degree programs and will serve to transition the campus toward the new four- year curriculum. The project scope will include renovation of all major building components as well as an expanded footprint and the addition of a fourth story to provide a total of approximately 70,000 square feet of program space. The project will provide new capacity to accommodate at least 600 additional student FTEs. $34,000,000
You can find a link to the statewide list of projects here.
The goal of the plan is to focus on projects which can begin construction soon, boosting the construction sector. Being included in the package is an important step toward seeing these projects move forward quickly.