| What: | Groundbreaking ceremonies will be held for a new teaching and research laboratory facility for the School of Veterinary Medicine. The $77 million facility, funded in large part by an economic stimulus package initiated earlier this year by Gov. Gray Davis, is the first of three steps designed to modernize the school to better meet California's needs in veterinary medicine. UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Bennie Osburn will officiate during the ceremony. Invited to participate are state Sen. Maurice Johannessen and Assemblywoman Helen Thomson. |
| When: | 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, June 13 |
| Where: | On the lawn area between the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and Schalm Hall. |
| Visuals | Architects' drawings and models of the new facility will be available. University officials and dignitaries will ceremonially turn a shovel of soil at the site. Veterinary students in their surgical scrubs will be present to interview. |
| Background: | The new facility will range from one to six stories and will include 98,000 square feet of teaching and research laboratories, research support services, academic offices, clinical services and administrative offices. The building, slated for completion in 2005, will be a major component in the school's facilities plan. The new facility will help centralize veterinary medical activities, as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association's accreditation committee, which in 1998 placed the school on limited accreditation--a probationary status--due to facilities shortfalls. The school, which is the largest of the nation's 27 veterinary institutions and California's only public veterinary school, passed the accreditation review in all other areas. |
| Directions and Parking: |
Take Interstate 80 to Highway 113 and head north toward Woodland. Take the next exit at Hutchison Drive. Turn right onto Hutchison Drive and at the first opportunity turn right onto Health Sciences Drive. Almost immediately, turn left onto East Health Sciences Drive. Park at your right in Lot 54. Place a news media business card on the driver's side of the dashboard to park free. Walk south toward the health sciences complex, and you'll find the groundbreaking site in the center of the buildings. |
Media Resources
Pat Bailey, Research news (emphasis: agricultural and nutritional sciences, and veterinary medicine), 530-219-9640, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu