‘Building’ on Success
At Meliora Weekend 2004, the Institute of Optics celebrated its 75th anniversary by breaking ground for a new, 100,000-square-foot building that will house scientists studying both optics and biomedical engineering. The $30 million facility will include a new technology transfer program called the Center for Institute Ventures, which will help produce local high-tech companies.
The School of Nursing has begun work on a new $6.3 million, 19,500-square-foot Loretta C. Ford education wing. Named for the school's dean emeritus who helped create the profession of nurse practitioner, the additional space will help the school increase its student enrollment by 60 percent.
And last May, the new 82,000-square-foot Laboratory for Laser Energetics building was named the Sproull Center for Ultra High Intensity Laser Research, in honor of Robert L. Sproull (above), seventh president of the University. In its new "petawatt" facility, the LLE's Omega laser, the world's most powerful laser, will be able to produce 1 million billion watts of power. The enhanced facility also will allow testing of a "fast ignitor," which may be able to dramatically increase the energy derived from a fusion target, providing a possible new avenue toward clean, renewable fusion power. The new laser is scheduled to begin operation in 2007.
