Regents approved a program statement for the facility, which belongs to the Department of Grain Science and Industry. There, scientists work to develop technology to produce bio-based products from grains and other plants.
Renovating and adding to the BIVAP building will create more space for biomanufacturing training and education, as well as industry partnerships. The laboratory space in the facility will have a complete biomanufacturing line that supports all phases of modern biomanufacturing processes and prepares students for the industry.
University researchers and corporate partners will also use it to develop pilot-scale production of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative countermeasures for a broad range of emerging zoonotic diseases.
This project is to be completed in four phases, according to meeting documents. In the first phase, the second floor of the building will be renovated into a biomanufacturing core and training facility. This phase will include ISO class 5, 6 and 7 cleanrooms, highly controlled environments that limit air particles and moderate air contamination. The first phase will cost $7 million, funded by grants and donations.
Phases 2 and 3 involve additions to the building to expand the research space. The fourth and final phase of the project will take care of existing deferred maintenance, including a roof replacement, the HVAC system and elevator maintenance. K-State will continue to look for additional funding for the remaining three phases of the project.
Going forward, K-State will find professional design services and will request authorization from the State Building Advisory Commission.
In other business, the regents approved the program statement for a joint facility with the Kansas Forest Service and College of Agriculture, estimated to cost $5 million. The facility will allow take care of overlapping needs of the Kansas Forest Service and College of Agriculture.
The 13,268-square-foot facility will produce vehicles for community disaster response use and fire preparedness. It will also serve as an instructional space for academic and workforce development programs with a multipurpose classroom/lab, a mechanical lab with welding stations.
Other features of this joint facility include drive-through vehicle bays and lifts large enough to fit military vehicles, code compliant battery storage and exhaust ventilation systems, indoor storage for fire equipment and shared office space.
The Board of Regents approved the demolition of 11 existing obsolete structures on the beef cattle research center site, to build a new research center. The cost of demolition, funded by the College of Agriculture, is estimated to be $800,000.
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