Plant Sciences facility at Washington State University In 2017, Washington State University approved the construction of a new plant sciences facil- ity, and that project was formally started in June 2018 when local dignitaries donned hard hats and turned that ceremonial shovel of dirt at the site of the newest building in the V. Lane Rawlins Research and Education Complex on the Pullman campus. Their plans call for erecting a four-story, 95,000-square-foot building that will serve as a modern research venue for plant biochemistry, plant pathology, horticulture and crop and soil sciences. Those programs and facilities are currently housed in buildings that were constructed more than four decades ago. John Peters, professor and director of the Institute of Biological Chemistry at Washington State University says several factors prompted university leaders to consider investing in a new facility. “WSU is known for the strength of our plant sciences programs, but our facilities are aging,” Peters says. “Additionally, we recognize the importance of basic research in plant sci- ences to Washington’s agriculture sector.” The $52-million project was authorized by the state legislature in 2018 and made possible with funding from the legislature, state agricul- tural commissions and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research Service. 26 / SEEDWORLD.COM JANUARY 2019 The new plant sciences facility will feature an open laboratory layout with dedicated spaces for imaging and microscopy, mass spectrometry, plant growth and phenomics. Its design will allow for col- laboration between its many users. “The building will house researchers in plant physiology of plant development, carbon alloca- tion, photosynthesis, production of plant-based products, nitrogen fixation and plant resilience,” Peters says. “Our goal is to create state of the art facilities for basic plant science research that has the potential to impact Washington’s $51 million food and agriculture industry.” Dignitaries breaking ground for the new Washington State University Plant Sciences Building include, from left, Rich Koenig, Derek Sandison, Jim Moyer, Ron Mittelhammer, Dan Bernardo, André Wright, Kirk Schulz, Mark Schoesler, Mike LaPlant, Mary Dye, Brett Blankenship and Bryan Slinker. Washington State University’s plans call for constructing a four-story, 95,000 square foot building that will be utilized by several programs including plant biochemistry, plant pathology, horticulture and crop and soil sciences. (WSU PHOTO-SHELLY HANKS). COURTESY OF LMN ARCHITECTS John Peters serves as director of the Institute of Biological Chemistry at WSU.