Governor Lingle releases $23,800,000 for University of Hawaii at Hilo Science and Technology Building

HILO — Governor Linda Lingle has released $23,800,000 in construction funds for the development of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo‘s (UH Hilo) Science and Technology Building. The new facility will include classrooms, offices and laboratories for various science-related programs. The Governor made the announcement today during a meeting of the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce in Hilo.

Current facilities, which were built in the 1950s and 1960s, are too small to accommodate the increasing enrollment in the physical sciences, astronomy, chemistry, math, computer sciences, and biology programs, and lack proper utilities and space needed for modern technology programs. The new building is the first phase of a new science and technology complex that will provide classrooms and research facilities to support growing enrollment programs as well as sponsored research.

"This science and technology complex will promote innovation, new technologies and products that will have the potential of being the basis for new businesses and industries in the Hilo area, across the State of Hawaiʻi and ultimately around the world," said Governor Lingle. "Cutting-edge instruction and facilities are crucial to helping our students compete with their peers in other countries."

"UH Hilo is grateful that the Legislature supported this project and that Governor Lingle has released the funds so we can move forward with construction of the Science and Technology Building," said UH Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng. "The needed classroom space and new state-of-the-art labs will help keep our education in science and technology on the leading edge in a rapidly changing world."

The project cost for the first phase of the Science and Technology Complex is $28,500,000. The University will soon bid the project, and the facility is expected to be under construction within three months. Construction completion is scheduled for the spring of 2009.