OLATHE, Kan. — Kansas State University celebrated the dedication of its first building, the International Animal Health and Food Safety Institute on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at the new K-State Olathe campus. An open house for the public followed the dedication ceremony.
“We had a great turnout,” said K-State Olathe chief executive officer Dan Richardson. “We were happy to welcome so many from the community, as well as K-State faculty and students from Manhattan and Salina. We also appreciate the many speakers, exhibitors, presenters, and music groups for helping make the day a resounding success.”
The open house featured displays by K-State colleges and programs, as well as programs at Johnson County school districts, including Olathe, Blue Valley, Gardner-Edgerton, Spring Hill, Shawnee Mission and Desoto.
The event showcased many of the activities and capabilities associated with the new building, including K-State’s Sensory and Consumer Research Center, which is establishing a satellite center at the new K-State Olathe campus.
Throughout the day, there were presentations on educational programs being developed to meet industry needs, including interactive presentations on animal health and food safety that allowed the audience in Olathe to interact with a world-renowned expert at K-State’s Manhattan campus as if they were in the same room.Music groups from Olathe Northwest High School provided music throughout the day and K-State’s Willie the Wildcat made a midday appearance.
“This is a great day for Kansas and K-State,” said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who spoke at the dedication ceremony. “The opening of this institute will strengthen the efforts to make our state a worldwide leader in animal health and food safety, which in turn will greatly expand our research and economic activity, and create jobs.”
The International Animal Health and Food Safety Institute is a $28 million, 108,000-square-foot building that will house research, education and commercialization programs in its laboratories and classrooms.
Students working toward master’s and doctorate degrees in biosciences and biotechnology will have the opportunity to work alongside scientists conducting research on the campus. In addition, K-State Olathe will also work with Kansas City area companies in providing professional development training for employees.
K-State Olathe is part of the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle initiative, a cooperative effort with the University of Kansas that involves KU’s Edwards Campus and the KU Medical Center.