One of recently retired Chancellor John F. Carney III’s parting wishes was to gain approval and funding for a new chemical and biological engineering building. That wish was granted June 17 when the University of Missouri Board of Curators approved financing for a portion of the project.

The curators approved Carney’s request to finance $12.3 million of the $22.3 million project. Missouri S&T has received commitments totaling $8 million in private donations for the project and will combine that with $2 million from campus funds.

Plans call for the 63,542-square-foot building to be constructed on the northwest corner of State and 11th streets, next door to Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Construction is expected to begin in November 2012 and to be completed by May 2014.

“For years, we’ve had a tremendous need to upgrade facilities for our chemical and biological engineering programs,” Carney says. “National interest in these programs has increased significantly in recent years. This new building will greatly improve our ability to provide the classrooms, laboratories and other facilities our students need to become great engineers.”

Carney adds that the university’s chemical and biological engineering alumni and the Missouri S&T Board of Trustees strongly support this building project. “More than 50 Missouri S&T graduates have made pledges of financial support.”

The new building will also benefit the chemistry and biological sciences departments. Those two departments currently share space with the chemical and biological engineering department in Schrenk Hall. Construction of this building will free up space for chemistry and biological sciences.

Major private commitments for the project include a $5 million pledge from James E. Bertelsmeyer, ChE’66, of Tulsa, the retired founder, chair and chief executive officer of Heritage Propane Partners in Tulsa, and a $1 million pledge from Bipin Doshi, ChE’61, MS ChE’63, president of Schafer Gear Works of South Bend, Ind., and his wife, Linda Doshi.

More information about alumni support for this project, including a full listing of donors, will be published in the Winter issue of Missouri S&T Magazine.