On Wednesday, the state of Utah awarded the contract bid for the new Utah Valley University science building to Big-D Construction of Salt Lake City.

Big-D Construction, which has expertise in building scientific laboratories and hospital facilities, also constructed the University of Utah’s $30 million Health Sciences Education Building. The company was also recently awarded the contract for the science center project at Southern Utah University.

Val Peterson, UVU’s vice president of administrative and legislative affairs, said the announcement of Big-D as the project’s contractor is an exciting and important step in the science building’s estimated 18-month completion cycle.

“I’m very pleased with the bid process. We’re excited to be working with Big-D on this project. They have a great reputation in the industry and their work is considered some of the best,” he said.

Rob Moore, president of Big-D Construction said the company is excited and honored to return to campus to build the new UVU science facility.

“After completing successful projects on the campus, such as the UVU Events Center and the UVU Learning Resource Center, being selected for the [science building] project is yet another appreciated opportunity for Big-D to contribute to this very successful campus and University," Moore said. “The project will provide a big boost to the construction industry, which has the largest unemployment rate of any sector in the state."

One of President Holland’s highest priorities since he took office on June 1, 2009, the new science building is a culmination of exhaustive efforts by Holland and his cabinet to secure state funding for the University’s space-strapped campus and the existing but overcrowded science facility. One of the state’s top building projects heading into the 2010 legislative session, the science building’s construction gained the support of the governor and the Utah Legislature.

Holland said UVU’s successful campaign to secure funding for the new science building was critical because such a facility would advance the institution’s academic excellence while creating much needed space to handle the University’s growth and provide engaged learning opportunities in first rate laboratories.

“I wish to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this a reality. It truly was a team effort, involving many divisions and levels of campus, including students, staff, faculty, and administrators. We got great support from key community figures, and our legislative delegation really stepped up at crucial moments, in some cases making some significant sacrifices in other areas to make this happen,” Holland said. “This is a moment to celebrate.”

The new 160,000 square-foot science building, pegged for a spring 2011 completion date, will house 27 labs, 12 state-of-the-art classrooms and a 400-seat auditorium.

The timing of both state funding appropriation to build the science building and the selection of a contractor could not have come at a more crucial time, Peterson said. “The project is needed right now. We’re bursting at the seams.”

Sam Rushforth, dean of UVU’s College of Science & Health, said the impact of the new science building will be felt far beyond the University’s Orem Campus.

“This is an investment in Utah’s future that will also pay immediate dividends. The construction of this building will help UVU provide an excellent education to tomorrow’s science and health professionals, and it will spur the region’s economic recovery in the short term as a construction-ready project,” Rushforth said.