USTAR Centers to Drive
Collaboration & Commercialization

U of U building
Schematic design of the James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building (U of U).

About the USTAR Buildings

As part of Senate Bill 75 in March 2006, the state provided a total of $161 million to build interdisciplinary research facilities at the University of Utah (U of U) and Utah State University (USU). The Universities are contributing an additional $40 million from private and other sources toward these projects. Each facility will serve as an industry magnet, encouraging collaboration between USTAR researchers and industry experts.
2008 Highlights

Hitting Design and Development Milestones

  • At USU, Gramoll Construction was competitively selected as the Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC), with AJC Architects and Payette Associates leading architectural and design efforts.
  • Ground breaking for the USU facility took place October 17, 2008.
  • The U of U announced its 20-year Campus Master Plan, with the USTAR building playing a key role.
  • At the U of U, Layton Construction, Inc. is the competitively selected CMGC working with design team Lord Aeck Sargent / Prescott Muir.
  • The Sorenson Legacy Foundation announced a $15 million contribution. The U of U building will be named the James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building – A USTAR Innovation Center.
2009 Goals

The Foundations of the Future

  • At USU, footing and foundation work is expected to be complete by April, with significant structure work done by September. Roof work is to begin in September.
  • At the U of U, ground breaking is planned for April with the commencement of site infrastructure construction in May.
    Projected openings are 2011 (USU) and 2012 (U of U).
USU Building
Artist’s rendition of the USU USTAR facility on the Innovation Campus in North Logan.

Putting People (and Ideas) to Work

The state’s construction industry will feel an immediate impact from these building projects. By the second half of 2009, an estimated 894 workers will be employed on the U of U and USU building projects. Long term, the buildings will connect industry and research, and should attract millions of federal and industrysponsored research dollars to the state.