KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education is moving to a new building at the Western Michigan University Business, Technology and Research Park in Kalamazoo.
The groundbreaking for the facility was held Friday at its site next to Floyd Hall on the College of Engineering campus. The $8 million, 20,000-square-foot, LEED-certified project will be home to the largest collection of geological samples and data in the state and include research space.
“This will be a place scientists and state employees and students and industry will come together and learn more and more about what is increasingly becoming so important: What are we going to do with our natural resources? How are we going to use them responsibly and also leverage them to make our lives better?” WMU President Russ Kavalhuna said.
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The repository is running out of room at its current building off West Michigan Avenue in Oshtemo Township. The new building will use high-tech mobile racking system to expand storage.
Construction is already underway and is slated to be done by the end of the year…