NOVEMBER 21 • 2019 | 31

NOV.
 21,
 2019

BUILDING FOR 
 TOMORROW
New MSU facilities empower 
research discoveries and 
student success

Many of the cranes and construction 
barriers on Michigan State University’
s 
campus are giving way to shiny new 
buildings and renovated spaces that point 
toward the MSU of the future. These 
facilities not only accommodate a growing 
student and faculty population, but they 
also provide spaces that put collaboration 
and innovation first. 

The following are some of MSU’
s new and 
upcoming additions. 

Powering STEM education

When completed in the fall of 2020, the 
117,000-square-foot STEM Teaching and 
Learning Facility will house classrooms 
and laboratory spaces that will support 
introductory courses for biological 
sciences, chemistry, computer science, 
physics and engineering.

The central structure of the new building is 
the former Shaw Lane Power Plant. The 
project renovations will keep as much of the 
old building as possible to provide student 
studio space and a vibrant commons area, 
as well as a new home for MSU’
s HUB for 
Innovation in Learning and Technology.

Accelerating next-generation 
nuclear science

Above and below the surface of MSU’
s 
campus, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams 
is taking shape as the world’
s most 
powerful rare isotope accelerator, 

supporting the mission of the Office of 
Nuclear Physics in the U.S. Department of 
Energy Office of Science. 

This discovery 
machine will 
power 
next-generation 
nuclear science 
experiments 
exploring rare 
isotopes — the 
forms of elements not 
normally found in nature. FRIB will provide 
researchers with more than 1,000 rare 
isotopes never before produced on Earth. 
Continued on page 2

MSU was selected by the DOE-SC to build 
and operate the $730 million scientific 
user facility that spans more than 550,000 
square feet. The university is home to 
the nation’
s No. 1 nuclear physics 
graduate program, according to U.S. 
News & World Report. 

When it’
s operational in 2022, FRIB will 
power discoveries that will lead to 
applications for society as well as educate 
the next generation of nuclear scientists 
who will advance the benefits of rare 
isotope science for generations to come.

The STEM Teaching and Learning Facility, expected to be completed in fall 2020, will house
21st-century classrooms and laboratory spaces that will support gateway STEM courses.

MICHIGAN STATE
U N I V E R S I T Y