University to Name Section of Academic Research Center for Panagiotakos
04/07/2017
Media contacts: Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
* M E D I A A D V I S O R Y *
Monday, April 10, 11:15 a.m.
WHAT: UMass Lowell will honor former state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos for his support for the university’s efforts to make the dream of operating a state-of-the-art academic and research facility a reality.
Panagiotakos, who represented Lowell in the Massachusetts State Senate for 14 years, was a frequent advocate for UMass Lowell and its efforts to expand its research to fuel economic development.
Through his support for the construction of the university’s first new academic building since the 1970s, the project received a $35 million appropriation from the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006, a year before Panagiotakos became chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The state funding, which covered nearly half of the $84 million cost of the 80,000-square-foot building, allowed construction to move forward on what is now called the Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center. Additional support came from a $10 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Science Center, $1 million in federal funding, $25 million in bonding through the UMass Building Authority and millions of dollars in private donations from individuals and companies.
UMass Lowell will name the building’s lobby for Panagiotakos and unveil a plaque there at an event for the campus and community. More than 100 people are expected to attend, including UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, UMass President Marty Meehan, state Rep. David Nangle, Lowell City Manager Kevin Murphy and UMass Lowell Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Julie Chen, who was a faculty researcher in nanotechnology during the planning stages for the building and was the lead voice for other university researchers on the project.
WHERE: Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, 40 University Ave., Lowell. For directions and parking information, contact UMass Lowell media relations.