Capitol News

A new Plant and Environmental Sciences Building is under construction at Michigan State University, aimed at advancing climate-critical research and enhancing the institution's food security initiatives. The facility, approved by the MSU Board of Trustees, will be located on Farm Lane and Wilson Road.

"World-class science requires world-class facilities to support new discoveries," said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz during the groundbreaking ceremony on October 25. "With the investments we’re making in infrastructure, MSU has the opportunity to provide global solutions in plant and environmental science while significantly expanding our leadership."

The building will offer 200,000 square feet of laboratory space for approximately 40 principal investigators and their teams. This investment reinforces MSU's status as a leading plant research institution. "For over 160 years, MSU has been a leader in agricultural research and education," said Trustee Kelly Tebay. "Today, we honor that legacy by furthering our commitment to plant science and taking on big challenges such as the future of food security."

The facility will include advanced features such as a phytotron for simulating climate conditions, a Center for Advanced Microscopy, seed storage facilities, and collaborative workspaces. It aims to support interdisciplinary teamwork across various departments.

The Plant and Environmental Sciences Building (PESB) will complement existing infrastructure like the Plant Science Greenhouse complex and other related buildings at MSU. Faculty from multiple colleges will be centralized within PESB rather than spread across different locations.

Research teams from both the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) and the Plant Resilience Institute (PRI) are expected to use this new building. Their collaboration focuses on developing plant varieties capable of withstanding environmental stressors.

"We are focused on developing more resilient plants for a changing climate — plants that can withstand extreme heat, drought, and pests," said Doug Gage, vice president for Research and Innovation at MSU.

The $200 million project is slated for completion by December 2026.