Research 2 building dedication held
Dedication ceremonies for the Research 2 building in the North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park were held Saturday, Oct. 23.
Speakers included NDSU President Joseph A. Chapman, Gov. John Hoeven, Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. Byron Dorgan, Chancellor Robert L. Potts, Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness, Glenn Gengel, Alien Technology vice president of manufacturing and Philip Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activity and technology transfer. Tony Grindberg, Research Park executive director, served as master of ceremonies.
The $17 million facility currently houses the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE). Plans call for the Center for High Performance Computing to expand into the building in the future, and a transitional incubator is expected to soon have four tenants.
The 75,000-square foot building has sophisticated cleanroom research space, and will include an additional $15 million in state-of-the-art research equipment to be installed by the end of the year. Construction on the structure began in October 2002 and was completed in March.
“Research 2 is a building unique in the quantity and quality of its capabilities, and is one of the top university research facilities of its kind in the country,” said Boudjouk. “Especially important is that some of the best cleanroom space in the United States is right here in Fargo in the Research 2 facility. The building's capabilities in the areas of microelectronics, coatings and combinatorial ‘high throughput’ science are some of the best in the world. I believe these high-powered tools for discovery and development will form a strong basis for new economic opportunities in the region.”
Established in 2002, CNSE conducts large-scale, multidisciplinary research for government and industry. The center employs about 40 permanent staff, 15 faculty associates and 50 graduate and undergraduate assistants. Its researchers work on electronics design and prototype fabrication, and advanced materials research and development.
Research 2 is located at 1805 NDSU Research Park Drive, Fargo.