The campus community is invited to the dedication ceremony for the Durham Research Center Thursday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the building. Plans are being made to broadcast the ceremony to UNMC’s Kearney, Lincoln and Scottsbluff campuses.
An all-campus celebration will follow the dedication, complete with refreshments and tours of the building’s first floor. T-shirts also will be available for purchase.
“The dedication will mark a new era for UNMC’s research enterprise,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “The Durham Research Center will be a beacon for UNMC in attracting world-class scientists to join the research stars already on campus. It also will be a testament to the community’s generous support of UNMC’s effort to advance medical research.”
The 289,000 gross-square-foot building, which towers over the western edge of the medical center near 45th and Emile streets, will enable UNMC to enhance its research in a number of areas including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurosciences, transplantation biology, genetics and eye research. Approximately 55 of UNMC’s top researchers will move into the 10-level building. In all, they represent nearly $55 million in extramural research support to UNMC.
A public open house of the first floor, which features laboratories, classrooms and an auditorium, will be Sunday, Nov. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
The building is named after Charles Durham, a leading Omaha philanthropist who has been a longtime supporter of UNMC. Durham, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Durham Resources, made the largest single gift in UNMC history to help fund construction of the $77 million building.
Principal private donors of the Durham Research Center are: Durham Foundation; Peter Kiewit Foundation; Suzanne and Walter Scott Jr.; Ruth and Bill Scott; Stanley Truhlsen, M.D.; Mary and Dick Holland; The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation; Gail Walling Yanney, M.D., and Michael Yanney; and a donor who has asked to remain anonymous.
The building is paid largely through private donations. Of the total, Nebraska’s Congressional delegation secured $2.5 million in federal funds for the project. No state funds were involved.
Construction of the Durham Research Center began with a groundbreaking ceremony on May 22, 2001. Architect for the project is HDR Architecture Inc. Hawkins Construction Co. is the contractor. The research center features 116 research laboratories, a 319-seat auditorium, three classrooms and 12 conference/seminar rooms.
Watch UNMC Today for more information on the Nov. 13 dedication.