KOTA Territory NewsSchool of Mines expansion plans are one step closer to reality

School of Mines expansion plans are one step closer to reality

A multi-million dollar project at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and was given another round of approval today in Pierre.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a number of university building projects across the state, including a new research building at the engineering school.

The committee approved seven million dollars from the Higher Education Facility Funds.

The proposed research center is estimated to cost 37 million dollars.

Federal money or private donations would have to fund the remaining 30 million dollars.

The 120 thousand square foot building would be located south of the Black Hills Business Development Center.

Tim Henderson, Vice President of Business Administration says the project is still in the early planning stages and could take up to ten years to complete.

"It is in its infancy stages, but it's still important. We have a campus master plan that we're paying attention to and we have a shortage of space already in research even at the level that we're doing, which is a competitive level, but we want to grow. Space needs will only get worse", says Henderson.

The bill heads to the full Senate floor for final approval.