Plan for $160 million Center for Energy Innovation on MU campus introduced to Curators

University of Missouri officials on Thursday introduced a plan for a $160 million Center for Energy Innovation on the main campus to the University of Missouri System Board of Curators.

The meeting was at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and was livestreamed. Robin Wenneker was elected by members as the new board chairwoman and Todd Graves was elected vice-chairman at the conclusion of the meeting. They will begin in the new roles on Jan. 1.

The Center for Energy Innovation will be a world-class energy research facility, said Praveen Edara, interim dean of the College of Engineering.

"This will put us on the national map of energy research preeminence," Edara said.

It's an important aspect in MU's progress, said Mun Choi, MU chancellor and system president.

"Incremental steps are not what we're shooting for," Choi said during a news conference. "We're shooting for transformation."

The planned 184,000-square-foot building on the main campus will occupy space north of Lafferre Hall on Sixth Street that was previously occupied by Parker Hall, Noyes Hall and the Old Student Health Building, which were demolished.

It will be a tight fit, but there's sufficient space for the building, Choi said.

The design isn't finalized but it will honor the heritage of the traditional "red campus" at MU, he said.

Funding will come from state capital appropriations, university reserves and private donations.

Move-in is scheduled for March 2027. The project will be considered for approval at the February board meeting. If it's approved, groundbreaking will take place in spring.

The first floor of the building will be dedicated to nuclear energy, said Roseanna Zia, associate dean of engineering. The second level will feature research on hydrogen and other renewable energy. Energy storage technologies will be on the third floor. The fourth floor will have power grid security and innovation.

The center will serve as the research arm for companies, Edara said.

"This will have a generational impact on workforce development," he said.

Mizzou Forward Initiatives over the next five years is expected to allow the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Scient to recruit 35 new faculty and 780 undergraduate students, graduate student sand post-doctoral students, according to agenda information.

There's a $60 million philanthropy goal, said Cooper Drury, dean of the College of Arts and Science.

"This building is going to become a magnet for the top researchers in the country," Drury said.

It also will attract federal funding from the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and Department of Defense, Choi said.

"I would expect to see at least a 25% increase" in federal funding, Choi said.

Veterinary Medical expansion

The board approved $43 million for a Veterinary Medical expansion project, funded by a state appropriation through the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

The project will involve demolishing the existing Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory, built in the 1970s. An addition will be built on phase one of a new building, currently under construction, It will include space for a histopathology core, clinical pathology core, toxicology lab, support areas and classrooms.

Project completion is expected by the 2026 fall semester.

Student housing, dining rates

The board approved increases in student housing and dining rates, effective summer 2024.

Students have several options by the cost for the most predominant plan at MU will increased by 4.1% to $11,558. That's up $453 from $11,105 this year.

At University of Missouri-Kansas City, the predominant plan increase is 4% to $12,384. Student at Missouri University of Science and Technology will pay $11,269, a increase of 3.2%. At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the most popular plan will cost $12,108, a 3% increase.

The rates are driven by factors including contracts with vendors and operating costs, according to the agenda information.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You Can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Choi: "We're shooting for transformation" with $160m research center