02-18-11

Gov. Terry Branstad, left, speaks with Charles Sukup, middle, the president of Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield, and President Gregory Geoffroy, during a tour of Iowa State University's Davidson Hall. University leaders asked Branstad and legislators to consider a two-year $60.4 million appropriation to complete the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Complex. Photo by Bob Elbert.

Iowa State leaders ask governor, legislators for state support for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Complex

Iowa State University faculty members on Friday, Feb. 18, gave Gov. Terry Branstad and Rep. Dave Deyoe of Nevada and Rep. Annette Sweeney of Alden a tour of Davidson Hall, built in 1922 and still the home of the department of agricultural and biosystems engineering.

President Gregory Geoffroy - along with deans Wendy Wintersteen of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Jonathan Wickert of the College of Engineering - asked the governor and legislators to consider an appropriation of $19.4 million next fiscal year and $41 million the following year to build a new home for the department.

The appropriation would complete the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) Complex on the west side of campus by adding two wings for classrooms, laboratories and offices.

About $14 million in private donations is expected to be raised for the project. Geoffroy told the Branstad the project is Iowa State's top capital priority.

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