Supporters break ground for Phase II of MRDC

By Leslie Nguyen
News Staff

Georgia Tech has invested almost $315 million in construction projects between 1990 and 1996. With the 15-year Campus Master Plan and Olympic construction experience, administrative officials are ready to move forward with campus improvements. On October 30, state officials, Institute administrators, and Georgia Tech supporters took another step in that direction by breaking ground for Phase II of the Manufacturing Related Disciplines Complex.

"While we've made remarkable gains in our residence halls and athletic facilities because of the Olympics, we have major needs for our academic buildings," said President Clough in his annual State of the Institute Address. "With the support of the state, indirect cost recoveries from research, and the Capital Campaign, we're going to make an aggressive effort to improve our academic infrastructure."

Roy Richards, Jr., chairman and CEO of Southwire Company, the third largest private company in the Atlanta 100, delivered the keynote address on manufacturing in the auditorium of Georgia Tech's Manufacturing Research Center.

"Last year, Georgia created more high technology jobs than any other state, and Georgia Tech has played a big role in making that happen," said Richards. "Manufacturing today is about imposing science and new technology on top of what is already there to improve it. That's what we try to do at our company, and that's why what you're doing here is so important."

Following the keynote address, guests gathered outside of the Manufacturing Research Center for the groundbreaking ceremony. Speakers included the following: Parker H. Petit, Chairman of the Board of Healthdyne Companies; Dr. John W. Koger, Chair of the External Advisory Board of Georgia Tech's School of Materials Science and Engineering; and Senator George Hooks, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Manufacturing is the lifeline for the state of Georgia," said Senator Hooks. "This center will allow Georgia Tech to continue to provide vital technological nourishment for the industries and the citizens of Georgia."

MRDC II will house the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering. The building is the third in a manufacturing complex being developed on the northwest side of campus.

The role of the complex is to create an interdisciplinary academic environment that is conducive to the development of modern manufacturing technology. Georgia Tech officials predict the top-of-the-line facilities will help the state of Georgia continue to attract national companies and the best manufacturing experts.

In addition to MRDC II, other Georgia Tech academic buildings that will be under construction in the upcoming year include the Bioengineering and Bioscience Complex ($30 million), the Sustainable Education Building ($3.3 million), Phase II of the Skiles Building ($1 million), and the Structures and Materials Research Laboratory ($6 million).

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