Desert Research Institute unveils $31 million in new buildings on Reno campus

The Desert Research Institute will celebrate the completion of the $5.7 million Maxey Science Building and dedicate the $26 million Computational Research and Visualization Building under construction at its northern Nevada campus in Reno, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Wednesday, October 10 at 12:30 p.m. “These two new facilities will give DRI the ability not only to house more researchers, but to take on more exciting research in areas such as climate change and advanced computer and visualization technology,” said Stephen Wells, DRI President. The public is invited to join U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung and EDAWN President and CEO Chuck Alvey at the dedication and open house. DRI took occupancy of the Maxey addition in September. It adds 10,000 square feet to the institute including microbiology labs, faculty and administration space as well as a new conference room. The Computational Research and Visualization Building will add 40,000 square feet to the institute when completed in 2008. It will feature a six-sided CAVE that will provide researchers and industry state-of-the-art visualization and virtual reality tools and hardware. This is considered an important attraction for the DRI Research Park, which surrounds the DRI and Truckee Meadows Community College campus.