In March, OMRF put the finishing touches on the top floor of its new research tower. With the completion of the McCasland Foundation Conference Center and the Masonic Foundation of Oklahoma Laboratory, OMRF wrapped up the largest campus expansion in the foundation’s 66-year history.
Even before it was finished, the tower garnered national support and recognition for OMRF. In 2010, the National Institutes of Health awarded OMRF a major construction grant to support the project. The grant followed a nationwide competition involving more than 1,200 universities and medical research institutes, only a tiny fraction of which received awards.
With its green features, the building was named as one of 25 finalists for the 2010 Renewable Energy World North America Award. It is now in the final stages of earning a gold certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), making it one of but a handful in the state to earn this prestigious seal of sustainability from the U.S. Green Building Council. And earlier this year, it was nominated for R&D Magazine’s 2012 Lab of the Year.
Most importantly, the tower has served as a magnet for bringing some of the world’s most talented young scientists to Oklahoma. As OMRF moves forward, this facility will continue to play a key role in attracting new talent to Oklahoma and improving medical research and care in our state and beyond.
