New research facility gets $228 million price tag

The University of Missouri System is moving forward with plans to build a new research facility to the tune of nearly $230 million.

According to documents for Thursday’s UM System Board of Curators meeting, funding is “to be determined” for the Translational Precision Medicine Complex, or TPMC, but construction is expected to be completed in October 2021.

Kansas City engineering company Burns & McDonnell Engineering has been tapped for the project. Curators will likely approve that partnership Thursday.

“Burns & McDonnell presented a well-balanced and experienced team with in-depth knowledge of complex multi-discipline research facilities, including imaging, clean room and GMP/GLP (good manufacturing practice/good laboratory practice) experts on their team,” meeting documents state.

The TPMC will be a 275,000 square foot facility sited along Hospital Drive. Elizabeth Loboa, MU’s vice chancellor for strategic partnerships, called the facility a “game changer.”

“An investment like this is really critical to make at this time and really critical for the economic impact on our state,” Loboa said.

Despite cutting and reallocating $180 million over the past two fiscal years, UM System President Mun Choi said the system is planning to invest $50 million in the facility. He also previously said the legislature is open to contributing as much as $75 million.

“The investments will go towards the building of the infrastructure, instruments, as well as collaborative research that can occur at all four universities,” Choi said of the system’s one-time contribution.

Leaders say the investment is worthwhile because it will bring in the very best faculty, staff and students.

“The return on investment is very large,” Loboa said.

The university will look to alumni, private partnerships, philanthropy and more for funding.