State Officials Laud Opening of Hemenway Laboratories

State Officials Laud Opening of Hemenway Laboratories

Oct 30, 2015

Framingham State University reaffirmed its commitment to its students, faculty and the Commonwealth during a grand opening celebration of Hemenway Laboratories on October 29th.

“The University does a wonderful job responding to the needs of its students, the community, and the needs of the state,” said Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo during the ceremony. “This new facility is going to open a world of opportunities for students at Framingham State.”

Hemenway Laboratories opened in August and features 16 biology, chemistry and food science laboratories, a stunning atrium, and several lounge and study areas. The building is outfitted with GreenFumeHood filtration equipment and other advanced safety technology. It is anticipated that the facility will receive LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“Students considering attending Framingham State now know that they will have access to first-rate science laboratories designed for exciting research and collaboration,” said FSU President Javier Cevallos.

Several state officials were on hand for the celebration, including DeLeo, State Sen. Karen Spilka, Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos Santiago, and State Reps. Tom Sannicandro, Chris Walsh, Carolyn Dykema, Carmine Gentile, and Hannah Kane.

“State-of-the-art doesn’t begin to describe these 16 new labs,” Spilka said. “Local MetroWest employers rely on Framingham State to provide the future workforce. This building is economic fuel to the entire region.”

The new facility comes at a time when FSU is experiencing large growth in science enrollment. From 2010 to 2014, enrollment in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects at FSU grew by 58 percent. These subjects are seen as areas of significant job demand in the Commonwealth.

“We hear a lot about the workforce skills gap and the shortage of STEM graduates,” DeLeo said. “This building reaffirms Framingham State’s commitment not only to the growing needs of employers, but its commitment to its students.”

The 58,000 square-foot addition to Hemenway Hall was managed through the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). It was part of a larger $84 million project that includes major renovations to the existing facilities in Hemenway Hall. The University received a generous $3 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to help fund a portion of the project.

DCAMM Commissioner Carol Gladstone and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President and CEO Travis McCready also took part in the grand opening ceremony.

The project architect is Ellenzweig, out of Cambridge, and the construction manager is Barr & Barr, out of Framingham.

About Framingham State University

Framingham State University was founded in 1839 as the nation’s first public university for the education of teachers. Since that time, it has evolved into a vibrant, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering small, personalized classes on a beautiful New England campus. Today, the University enrolls more than 6,000 students with 58 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences and professional fields. As a State College and University (SCU), Framingham State prides itself on quality academic programs, affordability, and commitment to access for all qualified students.