Molecular Biology Building
Iowa State University's Molecular Biology Building demonstrates
that the functionality demanded by science can blend with the form and
beauty intrinsic to art. The Molecular Biology Building is an innovative,
five-level science structure designed to meet the challenge of unraveling
the molecular secrets of living organisms. The building's interior and
exterior art are integrated thoroughly into its structure to reflect
the research and teaching conducted within. The building's research
and teaching laboratories, classrooms, greenhouse and animal facilities,
special support facilities, and offices provide a stimulating and supportive
environment for the creative scientists who are its occupants.
In the Molecular Biology Building, diverse groups of researchers can
merge ideas to generate new knowledge that can be applied to the improvement
of agriculture, the environment, and human and animal health:
- Crop plants resistant to drought, disease, insects, or mineral deficiencies
- Safe and effective animal health products
- Reduction of environmental pollution through new biodegradable materials
or microbes that digest toxic substances
- New crop varieties with improved qualities for food and industrial
uses
- Greater sustainability of animal and crop production
- Correction of genetic abnormalities that cause human or animal diseases
The promise of discovery in these and other exciting areas of research
draws scientists and students to Iowa State University's Molecular Biology
Building.
Building Facts and Figures
Teaching, research, and outreach have been the focal points of Iowa
State University's mission since its establishment as a land-grant university
in 1864. They are also the reasons that the State of Iowa funded the
$30.5 million Molecular Biology Building completed in 1992.
The building, located on Pammel Drive in the northwest corner of the
Iowa State campus, has 204,600 total square feet--equivalent to 4.7
acres if each floor were positioned side-by-side. After a formal groundbreaking
in September 1988, construction began in February 1989, and the building
was occupied in early 1992.
Architects of the Molecular Biology Building were Hansen Lind Meyer,
Inc., of Iowa City, Iowa, assisted by Stanley Consultants, of Muscatine,
Iowa, and Research Facilities Design of San Diego, California. The construction
project was managed by Story Construction Co. of Ames, Iowa.
HON Industries, Inc., of Muscatine, Iowa, made a special contribution
to the building's 70 offices and four conference rooms. All the furniture
for these areas was donated by the company as a generous gift to Iowa
State University.
A People Place
Biotechnology at ISU is, by nature, an interdisciplinary science, drawing
on the intellectual resources of five colleges (Agriculture, Engineering,
Family and Consumer Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Veterinary
Medicine) to fuel collaborative efforts. The expertise of scientists
across the university and professionals around the country influenced
the design and planning of research and teaching laboratories, offices,
instrumentation rooms, and informal interaction areas.
The emphasis on people, those who would work and learn in the Molecular
Biology Building, was central to the planning of the building. At the
scientists' request, all laboratories and offices have windows that
provide natural light. Comfortable interaction areas allow researchers
to exchange ideas with colleagues and students in an informal setting.
Research Laboratories
The top three floors of the building are devoted to interdisciplinary
research. Plant research is conducted primarily on level two, animal
research on level three, and molecular structure and function research
on level four. Faculty from two university units, the Department of
BBMB and the Department of Genetics,
Cell Biology, and Development (GDCB) are permanently located in
the Molecular Biology Building. Laboratory and office space also is
available for visiting scientists from industry or other academic institutions.
The building's laboratories can accommodate 240 researchers in 24 laboratories
of four people each and an equal number of six- person laboratories.
The laboratories are generic in design to accommodate the ever-changing
research needs of a rapidly evolving science.
Researchers share common spaces for cold rooms, darkrooms, instrumentation,
tissue culture, and other services. This arrangement not only improves
cost efficiency, but encourages interaction among the scientists to
spark new ideas in molecular biology research.
Research Support
Instrumentation areas are conveniently located throughout the
building. On the lower level of the building is a macromolecular structure
area that includes an electron microscope, X-ray diffraction apparatus
for crystal structure determination, a 500 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance
spectrometer, and a molecular modeling facility with computer workstations.
The ground level of the building includes university-wide facilities
for protein and nucleic acid sequencing and synthesis, cell-sorting,
and hybridoma research. These facilities are part of a university-wide
network of instrumentation
facilities for biotechnology research that are available to faculty
and students from the university and other educational institutions
and industry scientists.
Level two has special rooms for fluorescence and atomic force microscopy.
Special rooms for radioisotopes are found on the third level, and facilities
for fermentation and organic synthesis are located on level four.
Plant research is supported by a greenhouse on level two and plant growth
chambers on level one. Animal facilities that meet the requirements
of the American Association for the Accreditation of Laboratory Animal
Care (AAALAC) are on the building's lower level.
Teaching Laboratories and Classrooms
A major portion of the building is devoted to undergraduate and graduate
education. The classrooms include a modern 200-seat auditorium outfitted
with the latest audiovisual and computer-assisted instructional equipment.
Iowa State University students learn not only through classroom instruction,
but through their own independent research. Much of the research done
in the building is conducted by students under the supervision of faculty
scientists who are leaders in their fields. To facilitate their research,
students enjoy access to the building's state-of-the-art instrumentation
facilities.
For hands-on training in molecular biology techniques, there are four
teaching laboratories that can accommodate 96 students. A cold room,
dark room, computer room, and several instrument rooms are also in the
teaching area
Opportunities for Outreach
In addition to offering ideal settings for ISU students, the teaching
laboratories provide opportunities for hands-on laboratory workshops
for such diverse groups as K-12 students, high school teachers updating
their skills, extension professionals, and industry personnel.
The 3,500-square-foot atrium is the site of varied activities, including
poster sessions for scientific symposia and technology meetings. The
atrium also provides a welcoming atmosphere for informal gatherings
of students and professors.
"Art-of-the-State"
The Molecular Biology Building is located at one of Iowa's foremost
educational institutions, but there is nothing "institutional-looking"
about it! From the 3000-pound clay "G-Nome" figures on the
four roof corners with DNA helixes trailing down the bricks below them,
to the DNA molecule in mosaic tile that graces the atrium floor, the
building's art reflects the genetic nature of the scientific work to
be accomplished within.
Since 1978, the Iowa Art in State Buildings Act has designated that
one half of one percent of a state building's construction budget is
to be used for public art. Andrew Leicester of Minneapolis designed
the artwork for the Molecular Biology Building as an integral part of
its structure. The overall title for his work is "The G-Nome Project."
An Invitation to Visit
Iowa State University is proud of its Molecular Biology Building and
cordially invites you to visit the facility when you are on campus.
For more information or tour reservations, please contact:
Peter Lelonek
1210 Molecular Biology Building
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
Tel. (515) 294-2699
Email. plelonek@iastate.edu
