The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News

Linus Pauling, for whom the science center is named, holds one of his Nobel Prize certificates in his house at Big Sur, Calif. Pauling is the only person in history to win two unsharedNobel prizes. [Click to enlarge]

The Campaign for OSU has announced their initiative to use the $77 million in private and public funding to construct a state-of-the-art science facility, the Linus Pauling Science Center.

"This investment will have a transformative impact on the science at Oregon State University," said Ed Ray, Oregon State University president. The Linus Pauling Science Center will contain classrooms and laboratory space for undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers.

"[The] goal is to create an integrated space that will bring together people across many boundaries," said Sherman H. Bloomer, dean of the College of Science. Covering approximately 120,000 square feet, the building will be located on the corner of Campus Way and 30th Ave., adjacent to existing science facilities.

With $31.25 million in state bonds, $20 million from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, and $10.65 million from Al and Pat Reser, this project will attract top students and researchers to OSU.

The donation from Al and Pat Reser, major contributors to Reser Stadium, demonstrates a commitment not only to athletics, but also to academics, Bloom explained.

The center is expected to increase collaboration among researchers, specifically in chemistry and biochemistry.

Facility expectations include enabling students and faculty to make ground-breaking advances in disease prevention and aging research, according to Balz Frei, director of the Linus Pauling Institute in Weniger Hall.

As one of the most renowned and celebrated OSU graduates, Linus Pauling is the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes for Chemistry and Peace. Pauling's desire to use chemistry to promote health, along with his love for teaching, will be reflected in the new center.

"It only seemed fitting [to dedicate the building to Pauling]" Bloom said.

Construction is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2010.

"This may be an ambitious schedule, but we are sure going to try," Bloom said.

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