With completion of the 34,000-square-foot research centre expected by 2010, the university claims that the complex will provide scientific research, student training and even collaboration with industry.
The August A. Busch III Brewing and Food Science Laboratory, named after the head of the Anheuser-Busch corporation and one of the site’s benefactors, will also be able to specifically focus on brewing science.
However, a spokesperson for the university told BeverageDaily.com that despite a $5m donation from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, the company would not receive proprietary access to any findings from the site.
The university claimed that the funding was a philanthropic donation from the group and that all work performed at the site would be in the wider public interest in accordance with campus guidelines.
According to the university, the new site will be used to shake up the university existing food and beverage pilot plant, which has been is use for over 50 years, allowing for more modern teaching and research focuses.
A spokesperson for the university suggested that these focuses would be flexible looking at innovation and development in areas ranging from potential green technologies to nutrition and more general production and packaging techniques.
The site will also house a, as yet unnamed, winery that will include a large fermentation area, controlled temperature rooms and barrel and bottle cellars to aid teaching and industry short courses. The construction will also be backed by a 12.5-acre vineyard to ensure focus across the supply chain says the university.
“This new facility will be a platform for experimentation in wine processing, with the ability to measure energy and water usage as well as waste output,” said Andrew Waterhouse, professor and chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology. “Our students will be able to learn about winemaking using the most advanced facility, and learn approaches to improve sustainable and precision wine production.”
In a bid to further play up the University’s green credentials, the lab and winery will be constructed in a bid to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
“The aim is to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest rating awarded, which would make this the first facility of its type in the world,” stated the university.