This Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program (ARFMP) award from the Research Facilities Office provides funds to Tuskegee University for the repair, renovation, and reconfiguration of the recently vacated John A. Andrew Hospital complex as a replacement for the facilities currently used to house the research and research training activities of the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science. The main portion of this complex to be modified was constructed in 1970 and has not been renovated since that time. The replacement and relocation are fully justified and cost-effective. The ARFMP grant of $950,000 and $1,300,000 provided by the grantee as cost sharing will be used to modernize these research and research training facilities. This project will address the need to improve the current research infrastructure by reconfiguring the space, installing adequate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and other building systems, and providing needed fixed equipment such as laboratory casework, fume hoods, and cold rooms. Bringing biology, chemistry, and computer sciences together and also in closer proximity to related activities can be expected to enhance collaborations, the efficiency of the use of the facilities, and the quality and quantity of ongoing research. This award contributes to the infrastructure of science by providing an improved environment for the conduct of research and for the training of undergraduate and graduate students. This project will play a significant role in helping Tuskegee University to remain a demonstrated leader in the direction, inspiration, and training of qualified black students and women students and an important resource for bringing them into the human resources pipeline in scientific fields.
