This Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program (ARFMP) award from the Research Facilities Office provides funds to North Dakota State University for the renovation and repair of two adjoining buildings, Ladd Hall and Dunbar Laboratories, which house that institution's chemical research and research training activities. These buildings were constructed, respectively, in 1913 and 1963, and last renovated in 1979. The ARFMP grant of $600,000 and $600,000 provided by the grantee as cost sharing will be used to modernize these research and research training facilities and to foster greater interactions by locating related research laboratories in close proximity to one another. This project will address the need to improve the current research infrastructure by providing an upgraded heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system and by rehabilitating basement research and research training space to accomodamodate two laser laboratories. This award contributes to the infrastructure of science by providing an improved environment for the conduct of research and for the training of quality undergraduate and graduate students. Students trained in these laboratories have the benefit of having been educated in consistently productive programs, including the North Dakota State University's unique program in polymers and coatings.
