The University of Georgia broke ground on a $4.4 million
expansion of its Food Science and Technology Building on the
Athens campus.
The ground-breaking ceremony at the Food Science Plaza featured
the grand opening of the recently renovated first floor of the
building.
The renovation updated the food processing facilities and
research labs. The renovation project was the first phase of
this project and the addition to the building is the second
phase.
Adds 17,000 Square Feet
The new addition will add 17,000 square feet to the existing
building. It’s expected to take six months to complete. The
project is funded by the Governor’s Traditional Industries
Program.
“In our outreach efforts, programs are conducted to meet the
food
industry’s training needs,” said Joe Frank, acting head of the
UGA Food Science and Technology Department. “The expansion will
provide suitable, dedicated space to conduct outreach programs
for up to 100 people.”
For now, outreach programs must compete for space which is
mainly
used for food science classes in the UGA College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. A lab designated for outreach
programs will be included in the expansion, too.
Lab for Outreach Programs
“The laboratory will allow us to present hands-on demonstrations
of processing equipment, monitoring procedures, laboratory
instruments and product formulation,” Frank said.
Besides adding these new facilities, the expansion will increase
the department’s teaching, research and office space.
“In many cases, research programs suffer because the existing
labs are designed for activities different from those currently
taking place,” Frank said. “New labs are necessary for our
research, which focuses on ensuring a safe, nutritious and
affordable food supply.”
