The Physics Department at Montana State University is utilizing National Science Foundation support for a research facilities replacement project. Their current facilities do not meet the requirements of modern laboratory research projects. The building which houses these facilities was constructed nearly forty years ago to provide classrooms and faculty offices for the Mathematics and Physics Departments, neither of which had significant research activities at that time. Since then, Physics has become recognized as a pinnacle research department within a university that is dedicated to excellence in research and scholarship as well as instruction and outreach. Their laboratory research programs are focused in three areas: surface science, nonlinear optics and laser spectroscopy, and solid state physics. Since the initiation of a vigorous graduate program in the early 1960's, their faculty has had to cope with antiquated laboratory facilities including inadequate utility services and crowded conditions. Their modernized facilities will tremendously expand their research horizons and help attract more qualified graduate and undergraduate students to programs, including women and minorities. Further, these facilities will enhance aggressive outreach activities in science education, telecommunications, and technology transfer, and deepen collaborations with engineering faculty.
