The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus has undergone more than $100 million in upgrades.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that the improvements, most of which have taken place this year, include a new residence hall, expansion and improvements to the recreation center and a new veterinary diagnostic center that will open soon.
The East Campus is home to many of the university's agricultural programs as well as the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Dentistry and the College of Law. The law school has added a mock courtroom and clinical spaces.
Only about 12 percent of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 25,900 students have their major field of study on the East Campus. But 48.5 percent of the university's $295 million in research expenditures is in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which has its home base on East Campus.
Students in 2010 approved an appropriation of student fees to improve the campus rec centers, and $14.9 million went into upgrades of the East Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.
The renovated and expanded center opened two years ago and now attracts more than 800 users per day, up from 200 to 250 before the improvements.
The $37.5 million Massengale Residential Center is a co-ed residence hall opening next month that will house 374 students. It is replacing Burr and Fedde Halls.
The new residence hall has large windows and a variety of room configurations, including studios, apartment-style setups and two-person rooms. It also has many meeting areas and study rooms, and a courtyard with a fire pit.
Move-in begins this week at the Veterinary Diagnostic Center, where the university will perform testing for farmers and ranchers, the Nebraska and U.S. Agriculture Departments, Nebraska Game and Parks, zoos and other clients.
