Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Peter Lord
Journal Environment Writer

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI -- The program for the ceremonial opening of the University of Rhode Island's Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences was printed on paper embedded with wildflower seeds.

Instead of throwing the paper away, the hundreds who attended the ceremony on URI's Kingston Campus this morning were encouraged to water the program until sprouts appear.

That set the tone for the standing room only crowd who came to hear speeches from the state's top political leaders and celebrate the unveiling of a building that incorporates the latest in "green" technologies designed to save energy, reduce use of materials and provide a welcoming space to work and learn.

University Vice President Robert A. Weygand said the building will save $150,000 a year in energy costs and provide the best laboratory spaces in the country.

Governor Carcieri called the new building a statement both for the quality of education at the university and as an important economic tool.

"This building will be an important driver for our economy in the future," said the governor. "This is a stake in the ground to show we are serious about being a leader. "

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said he was thrilled to see the green features in the building and he said the university's timing couldn't be much better.

"The world changed in Washington Tuesday," Whitehouse said, as the crowd of nearly 400 applauded. "We need to move quickly to a green economy if we are going to sustain our way of life in the future." The predicted there will be plenty of federal funding for green projects and the university is perfectly prepared to "catch that wave."

Watch a video of the new center.

 Tags  RI video

Comments

Aaron said:

Great news. I look forward to visiting the building.

Link | January 26, 2009 12:41 PM
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