By Karen Burbach, UNMC public affairs

Loretta Wolf was one of approximately 2,000 people who attended the Nov. 15 open house at the Durham Research Center.

“It’s the state’s crown jewel,” Wolf said, while touring the first floor of UNMC’s newest research facility.

From her home at 42nd and Mason Streets, Wolf has watched the 10-level building rise on the western edge of campus since construction began in May 2001.

The two-hour open house was the public’s first glance inside the $77 million research building, which was built almost exclusively with private funding. The public open house followed a two-hour open house for construction workers and their families.

The building’s 319-seat auditorium, classrooms and laboratory spaces awed visitors who took the self-guided tour. Researchers also were on hand to answer questions and spotlight the work that soon will begin in the building, which was named after principal donor, Chuck Durham.

Using a colorful child’s toy, Laurey Steinke, Ph.D., of the Protein Structure Core Facility, explained how amino acids form a protein. Inside the auditorium, visitors watched an eight-minute video highlighting the generous individuals who contributed to the project, and the researchers who seek answers to medical mysteries. Those who stepped inside the classrooms discovered a state-of-the-art learning environment for students.

The Durham Research Center will enhance UNMC’s research in a number of areas including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurosciences, transplantation biology, genetics and eye research. UNMC’s annual research funding is currently $62.6 million, with $44.9 million from federal sources.