When finished, the building will house a mix of laboratories, offices, and seminar facilities for senior researchers, faculty, and student research assistants exploring biotechnology’s emergent future.

The crane rising high above the campus is a symbol of a larger Rensselaer renaissance.

Under way, though less evident, are several related projects. The Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), when complete, will broaden Rensselaer’s cultural life and intellectual impact. Several nearby vacant structures have been razed, and site work on the building will begin this year southwest of the Folsom Library.

You probably have heard the ringing of the pile driver at the 500-car parking garage site between College Avenue and Cogswell Laboratory Building/Materials Research Center. This will continue as 400 piles are emplaced over the next several weeks. But the schedule accommodates Rensselaer laboratories’ need for vibration-free time each day—and students’ need for noise-free mornings on weekends.

Excavation and foundation work is taking place for a boiler house north of the North Parking Lot near Sage Avenue, replacing the old mid-20th century plant with an efficient, state-of-the-art facility. The new facility will supply steam to heat campus buildings, increasing efficiency and extending capacity to accommodate the Biotech building and EMPAC. Like the boiler plant, an expanded chiller plant located at the south end of campus will provide for the air conditioning needs of the biotechnology building and EMPAC. An expanded electrical substation, also at the south end, will handle extended electrical service for the new facilities, and increased electrical needs for the whole campus. While these new facilities and infrastructure are under construction, we have embarked on a major renewal program for residence halls, athletic facilities, undergraduate labs and research labs, classrooms, offices, etc.

These are only the physical elements of the Rensselaer transformation. The new facilities will house new people and new Rensselaer programs. We have employed 66 tenure or tenure-track faculty members in the last two years, 32 in new positions, improving our faculty-student ratio. Some of these faculty members are at the top of their fields. All are outstanding scholars, researchers, and teachers. Our current focus is securing outstanding faculty constellations in biotechnology and information technology. A recent notable hire is Robert J. Linhardt, a world-leading carbohydrate chemist, who has been appointed a senior constellation chair holder in biocatalysis and metabolic engineering.

Annual research funding increased by almost $20 million in the last two years, and we have reason to believe this upward trend will continue. Rensselaer researchers are making outstanding discoveries in nanotechnology, imaging, robotics, microchips, lighting, environmental studies, astronomy, and medicine, among others. These are finding practical applications in medical diagnostics and prevention, innovative and specialized medical treatments such as anti-cancer drugs and computer vision-driven laser surgery, as well as fuel cell development, improved industrial robotics, the list goes on. These discoveries and applications are attracting the attention of industry, government, and the media, yielding prestige for Rensselaer.

The goals of The Rensselaer Plan are being realized now. Obviously, an outstanding faculty benefits students attending Institute classes now. Likewise, an enhanced faculty advances the educational environment and research experiences today, as well as for those who continue to study at Rensselaer toward advanced degrees. Rensselaer’s growth in faculty and research adds value to every student’s degree, and to those of Rensselaer alumni.