The National Atmospheric Deposition Program's (NADP) Central Analytical Laboratory and Program Office has moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and is now located in the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) building in Henry Mall. Across the campus in the University Research Park, Exact Sciences has started construction on a corporate headquarters building.
Image courtesy of Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene on Henry Mall now houses the National Atmospheric Deposition Program.
"NADP is the international gold standard for long-term, high quality air pollutant monitoring and has been in operation for 40 years. The program aligns quite well with both the WSLH’s mission as well as the Wisconsin Idea,” stated Hygiene Labor Director and UW-Madison civil and environmental engineering Professor Jamie Schauer in an article for University of Wisconsin-Madison News.
According to Schauer, principal investigator, the agency serves public and environmental health, science, education and agriculture by collecting data on various chemicals found in the atmosphere throughout North America. The data is used to determine where and when pollution is concentrated.
Funding comes from monitoring site participants as well as the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the Agricultural Research Service.
The state laboratory of hygiene, which has been on the University campus since 1903, provides public, environmental and occupational health laboratory and consultation expertise to national, state and local agencies.
Just minutes from the university campus, ground has been broken at University Research Park (URP) for the 138,000-square-foot, five-story corporate headquarters of Exact Sciences, a company committed to eradicating colorectal cancer and combating other cancers through early detection.
The facility, scheduled for completion in early 2020, will include a two-story link connecting the structure to the company’s existing 48,000-square-foot research facility as well as an existing standalone manufacturing facility. Already under construction is another laboratory, which will complement an existing clinical laboratory.
Future development plans include the creation of a pad-ready site for a second tower adjacent to the headquarters. URP has secured a construction financing commitment from First Business Bank to build Exact Sciences’ campus. The city of Madison is providing $2.6 million in tax increment financing.
“The Wisconsin Idea holds that science and innovation should not remain trapped at the University, but rather should be applied to better the lives and health of Wisconsin and the world,” said Rebecca Blank, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and president of the URP Board of Trustees, in an article for U-Wisc Office of Business Engagement website.
The vision for Wisconsin Idea, one of the longest traditions surrounding the university can be attributed to former UWisc President Charles Van Hise, who stated in a 1905 address: “I shall never be content until the beneficient influence of the University reaches every family of the state.” This has become the guiding philosophy for the university’s commitment to public service.
University officials are hopeful Exact Sciences’ decision to build in the research park will serve as a catalyst for encouraging other companies to relocate. Currently, the research park is home to more than 140 research companies.
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On Thursday, September 6th, 2018, Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. will host its annual University of Wisconsin, Madison BioResearch Product FaireTM Event. This event helps bring life science researchers together with vendors that exhibit products to help improve lab design, discover science solutions, and increase productivity.
Interested lab and chemical supply companies are encourage to call Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. at 530-272-6675 or click the link below for more information on how to participate.
Researchers have free admittance and lunch provided at the trade fair.